Week 93

Dear Family,

This email might jump around a bit, I have a lot of things moving through my head and I don't know how well it will fall out haha.

First thing first. Missions are super cool. It is a time where people find out who they truly are. It is also a time that people try out new things. New hairdos, new cloths, new confidence. So, back story, once upon a time, two sister missionaries told me that they read on my blog that I had waxed. Well, I was thoroughly confused as I think I would remember such a traumatic experience. I  looked everywhere to see if I could figure out what they were talking about. After a lot of searching, I finally got that they were just kidding "forehead slap." Well, now they don't have to be. Yup, waxing hurts. It hurts a lot. It hurts like you were forcefully removing each hair from each follicle in a forceful manner. Yup...waxing hurts :)

Although it sounds like there are a few things that the house needs, it is good to hear that things are moving forward. I got my flight plan today, and you should have too. I fly into SLC at 355 from Paris. Time is moving by so quickly.

Wait! Who is Dad working for now? You never told me that he left Thyssen!

 And finally, I was reflecting back to the beginning of my mission in Timisoara with Elder Harrison. I was thinking about the goals that I had for my entire mission, some of the things that we had been working on and the progress that I have made throughout my mission. I thought about some of the things that I wish I had done better at, things I can still accomplish (and will accomplish) and things that have pasted. But one of the most powerful things I can remember is from my first transfer here in Romania. I was thinking about block knocking. Now, some of you may think you know what "block knocking" is, but you are probably wrong. We don't walk house to house and knock a city block. Oh no, we go into a giant communistic cement building. One where the walls are thin enough to hear through. We go door to door, trying to share our light with others. At this specific time, the part that I want to share, we were in a very poor block. One where there were only extremely small rooms. Think about your bedroom. Most of your bedrooms are bigger than their entire apartment. We knocked on the door of M and I (I am pretty sure that those were their names). "I" opened the door and asked what we wanted. When we told her our purpose, she politely told us that they had no money to pay for electricity, but if we wanted to come in for a bit, we could. We walked in to find a dark room, kitchen in one corner, bed in the other. Next to the bed was a crib with a 3 month old baby. ​The room was slightly cold which was pretty impressive seeing as how it was in the negatives outside and blocks are not known for their insulation. I's husband came in and we gave them a short lesson. I don't remember what we said, or what they said in return, but I do remember what followed. M offered us an apple each. Although I didn't much understand Romanian at the time, I understood two upraised apples. How could I, a young man from America, consider taking an apple from this couple. I pretended to not understand, and as I did so, I thought back to all the comforts of my home in the US. I thought about Mom and her cooking. Dad and the home for which he provided. I thought back to all the food that we had back in our own apartment, and I just couldn't take the apple. I politely refused the apple, but Romanian's will not let you leave unless they give you something, anything to eat. After another refusal, Elder Harrison turned to me and said "Take the apple." I knew it was all they had to eat. I knew what a huge gift it was. I was humbled to the core (no pun intended). As we left the house, I placed the apple in my bag. We had just started a fast, but I knew the first thing I would eat when I ended it. The next evening, as I sat at FHE, I opened my bag. Ending the fast with a prayer, I pleaded with my Father to bless the family that had given me that apple. Tears fell down my face as I took my first bite, and I knew that God was aware of their lives. He knew them, much better than I knew them, and had sent us there to plant a seed. I never saw the fruit of that seed. I don't know if I will ever know in this life if they become converts, but I am so grateful for the lesson that I learned. We are truly a blessed people. I feel ashamed, sometimes, when I think of all the amenities and blessings that we have of which we never acknowledge. Find something this week that you are grateful for and tell your Father why you are so grateful for it.

Much love,

Elder Ormsby

Week 18

Hey family!!

Unfortunately the baptism fell through because of her not wanting to cause a tear in her family. But we have faith that she will eventually come back. But I probably wont be there as I am being transferred to Deva, a little two man city with one family in the whole city. It has been a roller coaster preparing to lose 3 friends, 2 of which are ending their missions, and now it is a much longer list. I am so grateful for the time that I have had to be in this amazing city with these amazing people. I am so excited to see  the difference when I come back (and I will come back) and I am almost excited to see my new comp and new city. Another white wash.  In a one comp city.

 I am actually sending you a package as well with a little something for The Love Magnet from that family that I was talking about. There will also be a hand written, yes hand written letter for all of you. I don't know when I will be able to get it out, but it will be there within the next 18-21 months...you asked for a nice long letter, but I really don't know what to write about. 

How about the ability that God has to help us through trials and helping us to change ourselves for the better. Ya that will be good. Ok so a few weeks ago I had a really hard time with missionary work. I had lost the will/desire entirely to do missionary work, which made me mad. I knew that there was no way that I could continue on in this way and be a missionary, so I took my own advice that I gave Dad last week and asked my companion for a blessing. Then I focused on only the good things during the entire week. Any time that I was feeling upset, or angry I would stop myself and then think of only the best thoughts about that person, or about what I was doing. It didn't happen right away, but by the end of the week, with a lot of prayers, I had changed my attitude for the better and have since then learned about how to master my emotions. I'm not saying that I can stop any emotion in its tracks, but I have since learned to rely more on the Lord and also the steps of mastering my emotions. It was a really cool experience for me as I had never really tried to change something that big or intense in my life. Try it out sometime. It will be a really hard experience, but I can promise you that you will be blessed for your work and that you will be able to see a difference in the end. As for pictures, here are some of my favorite people in the whole world and some other stuff.

LOVE YOU ALL!!!

-Elder Ormsby

P.S. thank you for the picture

Singing in a quartet

in the maxi-taxi

one of the investigators

Elder H and Elder O.  Elder O said he will miss his comp very much.

Making stuffed mushrooms.  His mama is so proud!

 Goodbye to Elder E.  He is heading home!

Last photos with Elder H, Sora S, Sora ?, and the senior missionaries.  (Thank you senior missionaries for loving our son.)

Week 17

SO COOL TO SEE HIM GOING ON A MISSION! I have no idea who the other two are...thing 1 and thing 2? I love that family.  That is so stinking funny about the teenagers, you probably should have called the cops, but oh well.  t was funny to hear cause I could totally see it happening. 

Thanks for answering the questions, it will help with a family we are teaching (i hope). 

This Friday  I will be baptizing an investigator (not ours) and I am really excited and feel incredibly honored to have been asked. The branch is coming along great and we hope to get things moving really soon here. That is really funny to hear about A and S (what language(s) is she speaking?)

 Love you and you will get something from me soon (I hope).

-Elder Ormsby

Again, thanks to the senior missionaries, we have pictures!

 Sora H took this pic of Elder H, Senior Elder H, and Elder Ormsby from her apartment window as they were leaving for an appointment.  I love the normalness of it all.  

 At institute playing a game.  They were instructed to try to get the cookie from their foreheads to their mouths by wrinkling their faces to make the cookie movie.  No hands allowed!

 Elder Ormsby makes it look cool.

Taking a "maxi-taxi" to get to a district conference three hours away.  Some of the branch members were able to catch a ride with the missionaries.

 From Sora H's blog about this picture:

"The tiny little lady to the far right, was one of the speakers.  She tells about how lucky she was when her neighbor was not home and the missionaries that had come by to visit the neighbor ended up knocking on her door.  She was so excited with their message and the joy that came with it.  She is thoroughly delighted with the gospel - and with her life. She just beamed as she spoke.  This little lady was abandoned by her mother at 3 months.  She was left with various people and had a very hard life.  But that part is over and she now has a wonderful family and she has her church family as well.  It was the first time she had spoken to such a large group but she was very happy to have the chance.  It was delightful just to listen.  One thing about district conference is that they have translators - for the benefit of the mission president and his wife and the area representative - and us!  Many wonderful thoughts throughout the conference.  They are quite direct when they give counsel.  Kind of like Elder Uchdorf when he tells folks if they are doing things wrong - Stop it.  Or if something needs to be done - Do it. "

Week 16

Anyone who is going on a mission and is reading this, follow the white handbook and the rules of your mission president, they are there for a reason. To those same people, I want to tell you a little trick that the Adversary is going to try and play on you. On your mission you will feel frustration. This can be good if you use it to change what you don't like and then become better. It is when that frustration becomes discouragement that it becomes a bad thing. Satan will try and make you feel angry, self-pity or discouraged. If you feel these things, know that you are stressed and you aren't going to help anyone like that. Take a half hour and figure out what is bothering you, change it, pray for help, ask for help from your companion and then take a moment and relax. It is better that you take half an hour instead of a whole day. Know that God loves you, your mission president loves you, and just to throw it in there, I love you. Have fun on your mission.

Week 15

That is so cool about Adam, I bet Grandpa was really excited too. They will both be able to speak French by the time he comes home, although his will be a little different.

Life here is really good, we had mission conference as you know and Elder Richards talked a lot about obedience and referrals. Good thing I have the best companion in the world. I prayed for a companion who would work me really hard and be diligent in all things, and I received it. Elder H is a rockstar here in the Romania/Moldova mission. He is known for his work ethics and everyone loves Elder H, or H as some of the Romanians call him.  Hopefully he rubs off on me a little bit in the next 4 months.

I cant wait to hear about Adam in the MTC, tell me his email, so I can write him a time or two. When does Steph enter in? Or is she already in? OH how is Steph our neighbor? If you haven't seen her in a while, will you just see how she is, take the Love Magnet. Tell her I just wanted to know how she is and then tell her She needs to write me. 

If Dad doesn't get better soon, call up the home teachers. Some of the things that I have come to appreciate here in Romania are: water I can drink from the tap, dishwashers, dryers, elevators that don't scare me when I get in them, ovens with a temp gauge, home teachers and other church callings. We are trying to get things running here in Timi. Right now Timi is jogging, before we leave it will be at a dead sprint. Any ways, call up the home teachers and ask them to give a blessing to Dad, Secondborn and Thirdborn if he needs it. I have learned that it blesses not only the person receiving  but also the person giving. You are depriving those people of the blessings that come from giving a blessing when you think you are wasting their time or dont want to bug them. I learned this in the MTC, understand that you are not bugging someone who holds the priesthood when you are asking for a blessing.  The Priesthood, when worthy, is to be used. Not saved for another time, it doesn't really work that way. Hopefully what I am saying makes sense. Don't be afraid to ask for  a blessing pur si simplu. Love you all and I hope you guys feel better soon.

 

Elder Ormsby

Thanks to the senior missionaries for the pictures 

 Bowling Youth Activity.  Most of them had never bowled before.  The missionaries had to show them how.

Elder Ormsby kept his coat on.

The whole group at the Youth Activity.  Only one was a member, the rest are investigators.

 Missionary concert.  The district from Arad joined in.  Elder Ormsby participated in an Acapella Quartet.

 Missionary choir.

 Must have been the missionaries' idea.  It looks like the Romanians aren't quite sure what to do.

The audience for the music concert.

Week 14 with pictures

Know that I love you all and I am so grateful for the opportunity to be in Romania at this time. I have met so many people who I love so very much. I know that this is the true church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and that we can come to know of its truthfulness through pray and reading the scriptures. I encourage all of you to find out for yourselves, for the first time or to renew your testimony, by reading the Book of Mormon from the beginning to the end with these questions in mind. Does a God exist. Does he love me. How can these stories help me. Is this a true book? Is this the true and everlasting gospel of God? Do these things and end with prayer each time, and I know that our Loving Heavenly Father will answer you. Know that He will answer through the feelings of love, joy and peace in your heart. God can and will help you, if only you ask him with faith, a sincere heart and real intent. Love you all.

- Elder Ormsby

 Showing off his awesome cooking skills.  No, he won't starve.  However, his mother is wondering where are the vegetables?

 Cool car?  Cool car but pink?  Or cool car for mom?  The Love Magnet says "Wow, cool pink car!  I am going to get that for my birthday!"

 Showing the state of his apartment elevators.

Are they up to code?

 Birthday dinner for Sora K and Elder H.  This picture and the next one courtesy of the senior missionaries.  They are so sweet to host these dinners in their apartment.

Week 13 with pictures

ok so unfortunately sending those pictures took a long time so here is a generic I'm fine email. I'm sorry it will be very short, but I just want you to know that I love you and you are all amazing. Thank you for the package it will be very helpful. You said you are sending another package, which is awesome!!! Thank you so much. Um well here is the wish list and it will probably be over 4lbs. but a crock pot would make the world turn upside down. We have tried so hard to find one here and it has been a no go so far. It would make dinners and everything else so much easier. I love you again and thank you for the letters in my package. I will try and send another email during the week.

One last goodbye with the MTC district and teachers.

Uh, Elder P, does that thing have a Mormon Tabernacle Choir channel?

 International traveling is exhausting!

 Gorgeous sunrise in Timisoara

 The changing of the water filter. 

Bowling with the Soras and (he didn't say if investigators or members).

 In Romania, guests are offered slippers when they come into a home in order to keep their feet warm.

 Investigator at an activity.  (English class?  Elder O didn't say.)

 R created a birthday picture and gave chocolate to Elder O for his birthday.

 A Baptist church in Romania.  Beautiful!

 Early morning from Elder O's apartment window.

another investigator with Elder O and Elder H.

The district including the senior missionaries (taken from the senior missionaries' blog).