Week 75

Dear Family,

We celebrate Easter is because it is a day of miracles. It is the day that we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is the day that we recognize Him breaking the bonds of death, making it possible to live again. 

Yesterday was a day of many more miracles. First, it has been raining for the past five or so days. It has been gloomy, dreary, insert sad word here. Rain always makes it difficult to do missionary work, but yesterday changed. Yesterday we had sunshine. Breaking through the clouds, the sun finally beat back the gray storm clouds. You can literally feel the difference that it makes for people, having sunshine. Coming to church was amazing. You have no idea how hard it is to go into church, almost cringing from what may or may not come. This Sunday, there was no feeling of dread, only peace. It was something that I prayed for a lot. Love everyone and everything (even the hardest things). With the sun shining, I opened the podium to those who wanted to bear testimony of the truthfulness of the resurrection and how it has made a difference for them. Members bore beautiful testimonies, and even those who didnt could feel the love of our Savior.  

Second, yesterday was a day of miracles. Before the meeting, I asked a missionary to  and to greet everyone with love. As soon as he did that, some members did something they had not done in a long time: they stayed after church and talked with us. I love them so much, and I was so grateful that a change had happened. We were going to have a roast dinner, but instead they invited us over to their house and we ate amazing food while enjoying great company. Yesterday was truly a day of miracles.

We havent been able to get out a ton this last week (but more than we were the week before!). Between learning to be a Branch President, dealing with members and all the other stuff, it has been a bit difficult to get out and about. This week we are hoping to bust out some good old pros time, but when members call...they call.

I am so excited to see you all on Mothers Day! It is only a few weeks away, and it will be my last one of my mission. How crazy is that!

Love you all and see you soon,

Elder Ormsby

Week 71

Dear Family!

We have had so much happen this last week! I was really excited to go on an exchange with Elder Montoya and get some work done, kinda "rekindle" the fire. You know, go out and just work as hard as we could. Someone else had some other plans in mind, however. We received a call from Sora M's daughter to meet up at the church with Pres. H. We thought it had something to do with financial support. When we arrived, we found out that Sora M had passed away and that her funeral would be tomorrow. Pres. H had to drive to Hungary to pick up his wife and that meant Elder M and I were in charge. Working out all the details, calling members and then preparing for the actual funeral was a very interesting experience. I believe the most stressing part of the whole process was finding out if Sora M had all the required clothes for her burial. We ended up not being able to work that out, but I believe that the Lord understands we tried our hardest.

The next day being her funeral, we finished preparations, translations and what not, and went over to the funeral. It was received quite well by her friends and family (there were so many!) and the Spirit was with us the whole way. Many people thanked us for the service and we were able to show them a part of what we believed of the Plan of Salvation. We might even be doing the No Smoking Program with one of her relatives. 

The day before the funeral, when we were at the cemetery, we saw an orthodox funeral for a young woman. It was one of the saddest things I have ever seen. They had next to no hope of seeing her again. Sora M's funeral was sad, yes, but it was also really happy. Sora L said something that shows the hope that we as members of the church have for those who have left us. "Think about how beautiful she is right now. No more pain. No more hospitals." C, her grandson, said something that stuck out to me as well. When asked how he was doing he simply replied "Grandma is with God in heaven." As if he were saying she is home, or at the store. He knows whats up. I am so grateful for the Plan of Salvation and all that it teaches us.  What a difference it makes in our life, having that kind of knowledge.

I am doing really well. Nothing major to complain about, and a lot to be thankful for. We went over to one of the sisters' investigators' home and had a lesson with the sisters and Elder H. It was such a great lesson and they are such a great family. We shared the Plan of Salvation and I talked about my excitement to see The Love Magnet in heaven, as an exalted and perfected person. Romanians always do the same thing when I tell them TLM has Down syndrome, but by the end of my story, they see disabilities in a different light. This family loves the way we think. It was a long lesson, but I haven't had a better one in my entire mission.

Good job Secondborn on achieving his Eagle award. He will be so grateful that he was able to do that. Now, if he could only write his only big brother who is almost exactly on the opposite side of the world lol.

It is so crazy to think that before the end of this next transfer, we will be skyping again and it will be my last one. Life moves so fast!

Elder Ormsby

Sora M one year ago.  She was a wonderful person.

Helping out in Primary.

Investigator and good friend.

Romanian babies are the cutest!

Drawing "Whalvis".

Elder H tasting some of the pickle brine.

My old stomping grounds and apartment.

Leave your camera around, and you are sure to find a lot of these the next time you check your pictures lol (she is going to kill me, but put it up).  ;)

I'm a good student. 

Our district.

Creepy painting in the hotel room .

Elder M's new companion.

We carried this 100 kg behemoth

up these stairs

 for service.

Week 70

Dear Family,

Rabdare Mama, rabdare...

Lol, we just got back from our zone conference in Arad. We were going to write tomorrow, but we have English and FHE, so we decided to take a bit of time to email our stuff now. Lucky you! I have received the bank card and will send it out as soon as I can. I will read over it and see if there are any special instructions that I missed magically. Send me an email if you know something that I need to know. 

I have learned so much on my mission. One of my favorite things comes from my Grandma and has been my internal motto this transfer. "Lighten up” in spirit and attitude and enjoy everyone around you and everything you are doing.  Appreciate the beauty of the snowflake and how if it wasn’t so cold you wouldn’t ever see such a beautiful creation...Don’t look back at what you wish you might have done but push forward solidifying relationships and testimonies remembering in whose name you are working." 

This transfer has been the best transfer of my entire mission. NOT because everything is perfect and we have baptisms and all that jazz. Oh no, we have 0 investigators and have had quite a few people fall out of contact with us (including another member). Its my favorite because of my district and the fact that I have been enjoying "everyone" and "everything". I laugh about the drunken guy, I smile about the mistake in Romanian, I almost cry from laughing so hard about all the funny little things that happen each and every day. 

Life is pretty good. For example (and this one might make you cringe a little bit Mom), today for Zone Conference I was asked to sing in a quartet. We were supposed to sing "Mila sus de straluceste" or "Brightly Beams, Our Fathers Mercy"...something like that. Anyways, its the same song that I sang in Timi last year, only I was singing bass. This time I sang the melody...the "easiest" part. It was so funny. First, I kept going to the bass line, but remembering that I needed to be higher than the bass, I sang an octave higher, then the alto part sounded nice, so I sang along with him. Finally, I would remember my part and get that out of my system before the end of the verse. Then the show started all over again. To make it even better, my body decides that it is going into shock and starts to shake...hard! I was trying so hard not to laugh because all I could think about was how ridiculous I looked. Then I squeaked one of the notes. Better and better! I am smiling right now, as I am writing this letter, it was so funny. I never would have been able to laugh, about a situation like that, before my mission. I loved every second of it! My favorite part was looking up with smile, ready to see some of the agony on the other missionaries faces. One of the sisters had her head down with her hand up, as if she couldn't look at us after the song. Like a "oh those guys, I don't know them" LOL!!! Best zone conference ever haha. The other thing that I was thinkin' was about how you never wanted us to watch the bad performances on American Idol (Trademark symbol (just in case)).

I have just finished the OLD TESTAMENT. Wow, that was one behemoth that I could use a translator for. It was rough going, but compared to the Old Testament, the New Testament is like a bag of cookies. I love reading the different accounts of the life of Jesus. How some apostles put emphasis, where others neglected to mention it. Pretty cool stuff. I also listened to a really good talk from Elder Bednar.  It was a great talk about how we pray for our trials to be changed. But it is more often that we receive the strength to overcome our trials, rather to have them taken from us. The Enabling Power of the Atonement

Ya, so life is good. Missionary work isn't really going to fast, but its going and I can see some hope, so why shouldn't life be good?

Love

Elder Michael Ormsby

Week 21

Thank you for the picture of my puppy, oh and the others as well! Life here in Deva has continued on as usual. We watched only the first session Saturday and the first session Sunday, both of which were at 7pm. we watched it at the church with the F family. One weird part was that it was also Fast Sunday, so we couldn't follow traditions and have a big breakfast and eat candy. I am definitely going to have to watch the other sessions though. It sounds like they were really good. 

I like this quick info thing that we have going on between the F's and us. We heard about North Korea from them as well, so I would have to say that you are right mom. But the biggest indicator that the last days are coming is the progression of the church 65,000 missionaries!!! Wow, that was a crazy thing to think about. 

Elder B is from West Valley Utah. He is super sarcastic and incredibly funny! He doesn't have a blog, but I'm sure there is an email thingy majigger somewhere out there. Unfortunately I lost my notebooks with my testimonies in them, which I was going to write in the CLM's, along with all my MTC notes and other impressions. Oh well, good thing there is such a thing as continued revelations.

In Deva wehaven't  been able to do a lot of contacting do to the fact that I am first counselor and financial secretary, there is a lot to get done at the church, along with other things. But we were attempting to go villa knocking up that hill. It is a good thing we don't live over there because that hill is really steep and walking up was a great workout. Also, I don't know if its the water or what, but people grow their dogs big here in Deva. Like massive mop dogs... Iforget what they are called, but there is a picture of a different kind that we saw as well. It was crazy!!! We meet in a villa next to the mall here in Deva. It is much nicer looking than some buildings, but relatively small. Looks like we are going to have to find a new one before I leave haha. 

I haven't sent your package because I haven't  finished a letter for you but I hope to get it out before next week, we'll see. Thats cool that Sora G wrote The Love Magnet again. I know that those sisters love TLM and really appreciate it when they get one back. TLM is a missionaries helper!!! And yes thank you so much for the crock pot. I was totally kidding when I asked for one, but it has been such a nice thing to use. If its not in the package, could you send some recipes (golden delicious chicken being number 1) by email. I know that my companion has really enjoyed it as well, as will all the future companions.

TLM,

What do you mean mom's going to California for two weeks? I am glad that you ate some candy (but not too much) I will have to send you something yummy with your package! I LOVE YOU TLM!!!

Thirdborn, 

Our branch is super cool! Did you know that mom skyped them, before she even skyped me! I think she loves them more, what do you think? If I ever go to Dracula's Castle (aka Bram's Castle) I will get you something better than a post card! I have heard there are some cool things there, like a puzzle box. Guess you'll just have to wait a while to find out what that is! We meet at church just like you do and do all of the things that you do at church. we have sacrament and then Sunday school, then its off to priesthood and before you know it, church is over!! And its all in Romanian! Crazy right? We have some restaurants here, but not as much as in Timisoara or in the USA. We do have a McDonalds, but I don't like that place anymore. So you want a shwarma huh? well, Ill see what I can do. Hopefully I will be able to make sarmale when I get home. Did you know that mom has mad a kind of sarmale before? Yep and I bet she didn't even know it either. Keep it cool Thirdborn. Oh and please stop growing, before you know it, you ll run out of room to grow!.

Dad, 

Sorry to hear that you have been having troubles with work, its too bad that you lost the St. L contract. I cant say that I fully understand because I've  never been in that situation, but I do know that the Savior does.  I  know that you both are turning to the Lord for help and advice, and that is exactly what you need to be doing. Be  ready to follow any promptings that you have and I know that you will be blessed, especially if it something difficult. I love you so much and as I have listened to some of conference, I am reminded of the love and sacrifice that you have shown to me and to the to some of conference, I am reminded of the love and sacrifice that you have shown to me and to the rest of the family. You have always been one of my hero's and I hope to one day have a strong a testimony and character has you have shown me. I love  you dad, and I want you to know that the to some of conference, I am reminded of the love and sacrifice that you have shown to me and to the rest of the family. You have always been one of my hero's and I hope to one day have a strong a testimony and character has you have shown me. I love  you dad, and I want you to know that the Lord does too. As the times are getting harder rely more and more on the family and also on the Atonement. Make sure that my siblings understand the importance of the scriptures and also the Atonement. It has been such a blessing in my life and I know that everyone has need of the power and help that comes from it. Know that you all are always in my prayers and keep a hold of the Iron rod!!!

So I just wanted to say something really quickly about Brother H. I received a text message the other night from my branch president, here in Romania, that Brother H had passed away. For me, death has always been a really hard thing to deal with. At my great grandmothers funeral I refused to look during the viewing and when I left on my mission, I thought of all the people that might pass away while I was gone. But over the past few months I have come to know of a certain truth. The Plan of Salvation is real. Sure, I could have told you before about the Plan of Salvation, and how it applies to all of us, but I couldn't apply it to myself. For whatever reason, be it that I have studied it more, or that I have tried to apply it more, God has given me a testimony of the truthfulness of His Great and Eternal Plan. After that text, I began to laugh as I thought of all the quirky little things that Brother H did. Be it playing his "hand trumpet" or the bagpipes on his thoat. Or better yet the time that we came into class and there was a light board and we was in a flatbill sideways, rings on his fingers and shades...the seminary rap. I have never met a kinder, more enthusiastic BSU Bronco fan (and that's saying something on the enthusiastic part). He was an overall amazing man. Before I left I was able to go to a fireside in his honor. The whole time he talked he was cracking jokes and being his usual self, and then would turn it around to something very serious. He talked about the pains that he had had every single night, and the love and devotion of his wife, and also the Savior and how he had come to know with all his heart about his Eldest Brother. I remember the first time I had seen him in quiet a few years. It was on Tuesday night for basketball and I saw this little skinny guy. Now, when I knew Brother H he was a little taller than me and a little bigger around the waist. So I thought, naw cant be him. Then the guy comes up to me and says Brother Ormsby, did your mom feed you miracle grow?? (something to that extent). And i said "whoa Brother H? Man you look great" He replied "thanks I have cancer". Just like that. He didn't sound like someone who had given up, he sounded like someone who had accepted something and then decided to fulfill his time here. I know that quirky man is teaching in the Spirit World, having a great time. I also know that he is watching out for his family, and they should know that they are in my prayers. I am so thankful for the time that I had to come to know Brother H, and I cant wait to see him again. His life is a great example to us all, and I know that he has influenced many people to follow the path of happiness. I say these things as one being influenced by the example of Brother H, a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and do so in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.