Greetings from Cambodia,
Well, another week has gone by, and I’ve now been in the country for about a month. It's kinda scary. I feel like I just got here. But anyways, I'd like to relate some of the experiences I've had this week. Well unfortunately the food here as caught up to me, I'm developing my "iron stomach" as the missionaries here put it. They tell me most of them spend the first few months here sick, but then they all get well and can eat anything. I only threw up a couple of times. But I'm getting over it pretty quick.
Well, for my first story: We had our air conditioner broke, which here is quite the problem, so we called to get it fixed. We had to move a lot of furniture and such in our bedroom and. . . .(get ready for this mom) there was a giant spider/tarantula on our wall. This thing was like the size of my hand. . .oh my gosh it was so big. I absolutely hate spiders more than anything else, but I think my parents would have easily fallen over to see such a big spider in a house. We tried to smash it with a sandal, but it fell off the wall and ran, very fast I might add, under one of the beds. So we spent the next 15 minutes trying to kill this huge spider. . . my companion eventually killed it and removed it, while I. . . went into another room. :) Oh, one thing this culture is still working on is asking for special orders at restaurants, for example: In Phnom Penh, they have a KFC, which is so cool. One of the elders went in and asked for a chicken sandwich, but asked them to leave the tomatoes out. They responded with: 'sorry, the sandwich is made with tomatoes.' I laughed like crazy when I heard that, because it's very much like that in this culture. Oh like a few days ago, we were calling to rent a car for traveling to Phnom Penh, and my companion asked if we could get two cars to drive the group of people, so it wouldn't be so packed in the car. The Cambodian car rental service replied back: 'okay, maybe you call back later.'
Oh, good news. . . my bike had to be fixed (long list of troubles) and it's all better. For 1/2 a day my companion and I had to ride on the same bike. . . very interesting. Speaking of which, most people here drive around little "vespa"type motorcycles, if you can call them that. But they usually have anywhere from 3-5 people on these tiny little things that just wiz in and out of the thousands of other bicycles that share the streets. It's really funny to watch.
Well, we are now having great times here, we are teaching a lot of families, some of which are struggling to make ends meet, but they have such strong faith. We went and visited a new investigator we found, when another appointment fell through, her name is Sovahn, she's so cool. She said that she had been to other christian churches and didn't understand why there were so many churches and quit going to them because she was so confused and such. We just recently got in contact with her husband who was very much into the idea that "i'll believe what I can see."(fairly common here). But after teaching him for a while about the restoration and faith and prayer, he was anxious to meet with us again. They are such a sweet family.
I am so grateful to be here, we are doing great and the work is moving along. We are just trying to pick up the pace a little bit more, trying to do a little more each day. I love you all, sorry I didn't have any miraculous stories, but I guess such is life... for now :) I can't wait to hear from you again. Love you always.
Elder Ormsby
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Cambodia!! 2nd E-mail
Dear Family,
Well this last week as been very fast-paced and fun. We just had our first baptism in our companionship. Their names are Vun and Sokha, they are terribly terribly poor, but they have faith that blows me away. They have four little kids, all younger than 8 years old, and they live in a swamp. .
. I guess that's what you'd calll it. But it was really great to see them take those first steps towards heaven.
Oh, bytheway, it rains here like you've never seen. It's absolutely incredible. We were sitting in a small restraunt and it started raining. .
. I honestly got scared, it was as if someone had taken a bucket of water over the city of Battambang and had just dumped it over us. It was scary how hard it rained. It rains here pretty much every day and it's kinda funny, because the other day we were riding our bikes to visit one of our investigators (a few miles) and it was raining the whole way, just then I realized. . . . it's raining like there's no tommorrow, yet I don't feel any different from when it's not raining. (just to give you an idea of how wet it is here). I've been through some of the most beautiful jungles here. I love it! Oh, but the way, there's a huge river that runs through the city of Battambang, and right now it's like 9 feet deep or so, and I noticed that the roads and city is elevated about 20 feet or so from the river, and the banks of the river were actually pretty close to empty, my companion tells me that every rainy season the river rises about 20 feet or so. It's pretty crazy.
Oh my goodness the other night we went and taught our great investigator named Sahrahn, it was pretty dark out and we taught him a lesson on the gospel of Jesus Christ, we were sitting on a platform that is about 4 sq feet in area (by the way we always teach sitting on the floor or a platform, indian style) and we had the three of us sitting together with a candle in the middle as our light. It was raining it was muddy outside, and the background noise to our teaching were the frogs in the grass behind us.
It's so cool to be in this environment. He committed to be baptized, he said that after he read the scriptures and went to church, he wanted to live his life according to the church. It's so great to see the complete change of spirit come over him. I love it, I still don't understand a lot of what they say, but I am understanding more and more each day.
Can I just say, honestly, when I got here. . .I understood that the people were poor here. I'd been taught in school or wherever that their were people in India and other 3rd world countries that didn't have what we have in America, but honestly. . . I had no idea. No clue. I've seen somethings here that would make you want to cry. Some of the most humble of circumstances imaginable. But most people are happy here anyways.
My companion and I are getting along great! I really enjoy being his companion. His name is Elder Douglas and he's from Georgia, he's way cool, he's a student at Harvard, so he's quite smart. He's very kind and spiritual as well, so we get along great.
Oh, one other thing. . . . if any of you have seen the Princess Bride. . .
if you remember the part where there's a giant rat (R.O.U.S) well we've got some big ones here in Cambodia. They actually rival the size of a normal cat. When you see them. . .they don't run, they're too fat. . . they "bound" they just go "abounding" along. It's really sick, but funny. The people here eat them, but my companion tells me they are out of season right now so the street vendors don't sell them as much right now. Well I've lost
5 pounds in 10 days here. . . riding the bikes everywhere is quite the workout, especially since we ride through alot of water and mud. But it's all good and fun.
Well, I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm loving it here and Cambodia is truly a great place to be, and I can think of nothing more important for me to be doing than preaching the gospel.
Well, I'm afraid that's all I can think of at the moment. But, I know that this gospel is true, and that Joseph Smith saw our God and His Son, Jesus Christ. I'm here because I know that to be true.
I hope to hear from you soon! I love you all!
Love, Elder Ormsby
Well this last week as been very fast-paced and fun. We just had our first baptism in our companionship. Their names are Vun and Sokha, they are terribly terribly poor, but they have faith that blows me away. They have four little kids, all younger than 8 years old, and they live in a swamp. .
. I guess that's what you'd calll it. But it was really great to see them take those first steps towards heaven.
Oh, bytheway, it rains here like you've never seen. It's absolutely incredible. We were sitting in a small restraunt and it started raining. .
. I honestly got scared, it was as if someone had taken a bucket of water over the city of Battambang and had just dumped it over us. It was scary how hard it rained. It rains here pretty much every day and it's kinda funny, because the other day we were riding our bikes to visit one of our investigators (a few miles) and it was raining the whole way, just then I realized. . . . it's raining like there's no tommorrow, yet I don't feel any different from when it's not raining. (just to give you an idea of how wet it is here). I've been through some of the most beautiful jungles here. I love it! Oh, but the way, there's a huge river that runs through the city of Battambang, and right now it's like 9 feet deep or so, and I noticed that the roads and city is elevated about 20 feet or so from the river, and the banks of the river were actually pretty close to empty, my companion tells me that every rainy season the river rises about 20 feet or so. It's pretty crazy.
Oh my goodness the other night we went and taught our great investigator named Sahrahn, it was pretty dark out and we taught him a lesson on the gospel of Jesus Christ, we were sitting on a platform that is about 4 sq feet in area (by the way we always teach sitting on the floor or a platform, indian style) and we had the three of us sitting together with a candle in the middle as our light. It was raining it was muddy outside, and the background noise to our teaching were the frogs in the grass behind us.
It's so cool to be in this environment. He committed to be baptized, he said that after he read the scriptures and went to church, he wanted to live his life according to the church. It's so great to see the complete change of spirit come over him. I love it, I still don't understand a lot of what they say, but I am understanding more and more each day.
Can I just say, honestly, when I got here. . .I understood that the people were poor here. I'd been taught in school or wherever that their were people in India and other 3rd world countries that didn't have what we have in America, but honestly. . . I had no idea. No clue. I've seen somethings here that would make you want to cry. Some of the most humble of circumstances imaginable. But most people are happy here anyways.
My companion and I are getting along great! I really enjoy being his companion. His name is Elder Douglas and he's from Georgia, he's way cool, he's a student at Harvard, so he's quite smart. He's very kind and spiritual as well, so we get along great.
Oh, one other thing. . . . if any of you have seen the Princess Bride. . .
if you remember the part where there's a giant rat (R.O.U.S) well we've got some big ones here in Cambodia. They actually rival the size of a normal cat. When you see them. . .they don't run, they're too fat. . . they "bound" they just go "abounding" along. It's really sick, but funny. The people here eat them, but my companion tells me they are out of season right now so the street vendors don't sell them as much right now. Well I've lost
5 pounds in 10 days here. . . riding the bikes everywhere is quite the workout, especially since we ride through alot of water and mud. But it's all good and fun.
Well, I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm loving it here and Cambodia is truly a great place to be, and I can think of nothing more important for me to be doing than preaching the gospel.
Well, I'm afraid that's all I can think of at the moment. But, I know that this gospel is true, and that Joseph Smith saw our God and His Son, Jesus Christ. I'm here because I know that to be true.
I hope to hear from you soon! I love you all!
Love, Elder Ormsby
Thursday, June 26, 2008
6-25-08
Hey Dad, Family, and whoever else reads-
Well here is my first real email from Cambodia. And the first thing I have to say about that is.. . . it's so blasted hot I think I'm gonna die!!! oh my goodness the humidity combined with the unbelievable scorching hot temperatures is deadly. Well my first area is the city of Battambang, it's Cambodia's third largest city, which isn't saying much but yeah. Virtually everyone here drivesa little moto scooter kinda like vespas. They are all over the place here. I wish the missionaries were allowed to have some because we ride our bikes anywhere from 14-20 miles a day and it's pretty crazy. When we are teaching, both of us look like we just walked through a water-fall. The people here are so so so so so poor. It makes you wanna cry when you see the way they live. I've seen some of the most poor circumstances I think you can possibly imagine. It's actually really tough. The Mission is physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually draining. My first day of proselyting was one of the most difficult experiences I've had in my life. We teach a lot of investigators and inactive members of the church. It's pretty difficult in Cambodia with the Buddhist culture, which is basically a belief of complacency and everything is ok if you don't kill, or steal, and etc. People here have very poor education and they need things to be explained very very simply. Teaching lessons is quite the experience too, we usually teach the people in their homes and we sit indian style" around on a surface made of bamboo, my feet are killing me but i'm starting to develop calicuses. I've almost come to accept that I will never feel comfortable as far as "ac" and "Being wet" goes. But all is well in Cambodia, I still don't quite have the language but it's coming along. I have a great companion, who has been a great source of help and strength. His name is Elder Douglas, and he's from Georgia. He actually finishes up his mission in 5 weeks and his parents are coming to pick him up, so I think that it shouldn't be a problem for Mom and Dad to come when I'm finished. Oh one really scary thing that Mom probably won't like is that there are bugs everywhere. Because it's so tropical and humid and wet, bugs flourish here. We have geckos and ants in every building, yes, even our house. The geckos just kinda chill on the walls and every once in a while make a "cricket" like sound. It's actually pretty funny. All the kids and people in Cambodia are so nice. Alot of the time when we are riding around, we'll have a group of people yell, "HELLO" because everyone here wants to learn english and things it's hilarious that the american missionaries can speak Cambodian. Speaking of which, twice a week for an hour, we teach an english class for anyone who would like to come to the church. We are teaching the advanced class today and it's very very fun. During sacrament meeting, wow! it's absolutely crazy! I've meet more crazy people in Cambodia in the short space of a week than I ever have in my entire life. Our Branch President always says crazy statements that don't make sense in either english or cambodian and none one quite understands what he's saying. Oh I have a pretty hilarious story to tell you. On my second day here, my trainer prep'd me for the lessons we'd be teaching. He told me that we were going to teach an investigator by the name of "Phiap" and that was reading his scriptures, coming to church every week, and praying everyday, but that he was having some trouble with alcohol. Well anyways, we biked i think like 5 miles to this guys home and we sit down and we start teaching him. And we start teaching about the word of wisdom and Phiap starts saying that he wants to get baptized but really feels like he can't stop drinking... so we start teaching that if he tries and prays and goes to church he'd be helped, and when we tried to commit him to stop drinking altogether, he said, "okay, I'll stop drinking if you guys join me for one last drink." And then he pulled out three glass beer bottles from his little cooler and he opened them and set them in front of us. And he said again, "have one last drink with me and I'll stop and be baptized." and I'm like I'm sorry we can't it's against the word of wisdom and i've promised to never drink that. And my companion is saying the same thing. And this goes on for another 3 or 4 minutes until my companion says, "okay, you promise that you will never drink again if we do?" and Phiap says, "Yes yes, I promise I promise." And my companion totally starting drinking it! I am like. . . what are you doing!!! and he just looked and me and said, "Hey, it'll help him get baptized, he needs to get baptized, don't you wanna help him?" I'm like, yeah I wanna help him but what the heck are you doing? and I'm thinking in my head, "oh my gosh, I have to call President, my companion's going home, what am I going to do?" And all this while, Phiap is saying to me, why won't you drink with me? If you don't drink with me you don't love me. And i'm like Phiap, I can't drink it. And finally he said, "okay, just take a very very small drink and it'll be enough for me." And I'm like, I can't Phiap! I'm sorry. and He kept on saying stuff like "Oh you don't love me, you don't wanna help me, I want to get baptized but you won't help me, etc." and finally he says, "ok, just take your finger and dip it in the beer and that will be enough" and I'm getting really frustrated here, because his whole family is getting in on this saying that I'm not helping their dad and going off about how much they wish their dad to stop drinking. However, I remained strong and kept my cool. And after like 20 mins of this my companion looks at me and takes a cup and poors out the bottle and it's just sprite! I was sooooooo mad!!!!!! I was about to kill him!!!! Everyone was laughing uproariously, it was quite the scene. Anyways that's my funny story for this email, one which I will not soon forget. So anyways, All is well and sorry the beginning of this email seemed like a downer, but everything is great here, and the Lord truly blesses and watches over his missionaries. I've felt so much comfort and peace as I've been adjusting to this very very very very different environment and way of life. All the missionaries tell me that the first 3 weeks are pretty tough, but that after that it's all great and very fast paced. My companion tells me everyday that he can't believe he's going home. he keeps telling me that he was in my place yesterday. Well I'd like to leave you with this testimony:
God lives, and He loves His children, every single one of them. And He is very mindful of the "war-torn" people of Cambodia, and He is pouring out His spirit among them and is setting at hand the way for peace, joy, and comfort in their lives. I know I am a part of that great reaching out to offer His love. I'm enjoying my time here in Cambodia and can't wait to hear from you again!
Love, Elder Ormsby
Well here is my first real email from Cambodia. And the first thing I have to say about that is.. . . it's so blasted hot I think I'm gonna die!!! oh my goodness the humidity combined with the unbelievable scorching hot temperatures is deadly. Well my first area is the city of Battambang, it's Cambodia's third largest city, which isn't saying much but yeah. Virtually everyone here drivesa little moto scooter kinda like vespas. They are all over the place here. I wish the missionaries were allowed to have some because we ride our bikes anywhere from 14-20 miles a day and it's pretty crazy. When we are teaching, both of us look like we just walked through a water-fall. The people here are so so so so so poor. It makes you wanna cry when you see the way they live. I've seen some of the most poor circumstances I think you can possibly imagine. It's actually really tough. The Mission is physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually draining. My first day of proselyting was one of the most difficult experiences I've had in my life. We teach a lot of investigators and inactive members of the church. It's pretty difficult in Cambodia with the Buddhist culture, which is basically a belief of complacency and everything is ok if you don't kill, or steal, and etc. People here have very poor education and they need things to be explained very very simply. Teaching lessons is quite the experience too, we usually teach the people in their homes and we sit indian style" around on a surface made of bamboo, my feet are killing me but i'm starting to develop calicuses. I've almost come to accept that I will never feel comfortable as far as "ac" and "Being wet" goes. But all is well in Cambodia, I still don't quite have the language but it's coming along. I have a great companion, who has been a great source of help and strength. His name is Elder Douglas, and he's from Georgia. He actually finishes up his mission in 5 weeks and his parents are coming to pick him up, so I think that it shouldn't be a problem for Mom and Dad to come when I'm finished. Oh one really scary thing that Mom probably won't like is that there are bugs everywhere. Because it's so tropical and humid and wet, bugs flourish here. We have geckos and ants in every building, yes, even our house. The geckos just kinda chill on the walls and every once in a while make a "cricket" like sound. It's actually pretty funny. All the kids and people in Cambodia are so nice. Alot of the time when we are riding around, we'll have a group of people yell, "HELLO" because everyone here wants to learn english and things it's hilarious that the american missionaries can speak Cambodian. Speaking of which, twice a week for an hour, we teach an english class for anyone who would like to come to the church. We are teaching the advanced class today and it's very very fun. During sacrament meeting, wow! it's absolutely crazy! I've meet more crazy people in Cambodia in the short space of a week than I ever have in my entire life. Our Branch President always says crazy statements that don't make sense in either english or cambodian and none one quite understands what he's saying. Oh I have a pretty hilarious story to tell you. On my second day here, my trainer prep'd me for the lessons we'd be teaching. He told me that we were going to teach an investigator by the name of "Phiap" and that was reading his scriptures, coming to church every week, and praying everyday, but that he was having some trouble with alcohol. Well anyways, we biked i think like 5 miles to this guys home and we sit down and we start teaching him. And we start teaching about the word of wisdom and Phiap starts saying that he wants to get baptized but really feels like he can't stop drinking... so we start teaching that if he tries and prays and goes to church he'd be helped, and when we tried to commit him to stop drinking altogether, he said, "okay, I'll stop drinking if you guys join me for one last drink." And then he pulled out three glass beer bottles from his little cooler and he opened them and set them in front of us. And he said again, "have one last drink with me and I'll stop and be baptized." and I'm like I'm sorry we can't it's against the word of wisdom and i've promised to never drink that. And my companion is saying the same thing. And this goes on for another 3 or 4 minutes until my companion says, "okay, you promise that you will never drink again if we do?" and Phiap says, "Yes yes, I promise I promise." And my companion totally starting drinking it! I am like. . . what are you doing!!! and he just looked and me and said, "Hey, it'll help him get baptized, he needs to get baptized, don't you wanna help him?" I'm like, yeah I wanna help him but what the heck are you doing? and I'm thinking in my head, "oh my gosh, I have to call President, my companion's going home, what am I going to do?" And all this while, Phiap is saying to me, why won't you drink with me? If you don't drink with me you don't love me. And i'm like Phiap, I can't drink it. And finally he said, "okay, just take a very very small drink and it'll be enough for me." And I'm like, I can't Phiap! I'm sorry. and He kept on saying stuff like "Oh you don't love me, you don't wanna help me, I want to get baptized but you won't help me, etc." and finally he says, "ok, just take your finger and dip it in the beer and that will be enough" and I'm getting really frustrated here, because his whole family is getting in on this saying that I'm not helping their dad and going off about how much they wish their dad to stop drinking. However, I remained strong and kept my cool. And after like 20 mins of this my companion looks at me and takes a cup and poors out the bottle and it's just sprite! I was sooooooo mad!!!!!! I was about to kill him!!!! Everyone was laughing uproariously, it was quite the scene. Anyways that's my funny story for this email, one which I will not soon forget. So anyways, All is well and sorry the beginning of this email seemed like a downer, but everything is great here, and the Lord truly blesses and watches over his missionaries. I've felt so much comfort and peace as I've been adjusting to this very very very very different environment and way of life. All the missionaries tell me that the first 3 weeks are pretty tough, but that after that it's all great and very fast paced. My companion tells me everyday that he can't believe he's going home. he keeps telling me that he was in my place yesterday. Well I'd like to leave you with this testimony:
God lives, and He loves His children, every single one of them. And He is very mindful of the "war-torn" people of Cambodia, and He is pouring out His spirit among them and is setting at hand the way for peace, joy, and comfort in their lives. I know I am a part of that great reaching out to offer His love. I'm enjoying my time here in Cambodia and can't wait to hear from you again!
Love, Elder Ormsby
June 18, 2008 Cambodia!!
Hello Everyone!
Well I've made it. I'm sending you this email from the mission home in Phnom Penh. We just had lunch and it's so hot here. I'm not joking we are always wet here and will be wet for the next two years. But I am absolutely loving it here. Our mission president is a great guy and I'm so excited to start working. I'm not exactly sure what we are doing for the rest of today, but it sounds like tomorrow we are going to start working right off the bat so that will be the beginning of my proselyting. Anyways, My P-day is on Wednesday, so I guess the earliest you can expect emails and such will be on Tuesday night Utah time. Sorry can't talk more but I'll talk to you later!
-Elder Ormsby
Best way to write is www.dearelder.com and use the free pouch system. Its fairly quick and reliable. Elder Ormsby, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Well I've made it. I'm sending you this email from the mission home in Phnom Penh. We just had lunch and it's so hot here. I'm not joking we are always wet here and will be wet for the next two years. But I am absolutely loving it here. Our mission president is a great guy and I'm so excited to start working. I'm not exactly sure what we are doing for the rest of today, but it sounds like tomorrow we are going to start working right off the bat so that will be the beginning of my proselyting. Anyways, My P-day is on Wednesday, so I guess the earliest you can expect emails and such will be on Tuesday night Utah time. Sorry can't talk more but I'll talk to you later!
-Elder Ormsby
Best way to write is www.dearelder.com and use the free pouch system. Its fairly quick and reliable. Elder Ormsby, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Danny's ninth e-mail
Well everyone, this is officially my last email during my stay at the MTC, not because I don't like to send emails, but because I'm heading out to Cambodia. I'm pretty much going to die. We spend about 16 and 1/2 hours in the air over the pacific. . . . it's like driving from Utah to California and half way back non stop, and there's no stopping for gas or a break. Well. . . .I'm not exactly sure what to write. But I did hear some information. I'll arrive in Cambodia on thursday their time and will spend the day with the mission president and then spend the night there, before getting my new companion and getting to work! I'm so excited!!!! So the next 40 hours or so of my life will be spent at the airport or on a plane.. . .the perfect way to start the proselyting. But anyways, have a great day, and I'll let you know what Cambodia is like as soon as I get there. :) -Love, Elder Ormsby
Danny's eighth e-mail
Hello Everyone!
Well this is officially the beginning of my last week at the MTC and I now have my flight plans for Cambodia. Here's the deal:
Detla air Lines: flight 1133 I leave 9:23 PM 17th June I Arrive at LAX 10:34 PM Then I leave from LAX 1:30 AM 18th of June (EVA airways flight:15) and Fly to . . . . Taipe Taiwan and Arrive 6:20 AM on June 19th then I wait another 3 hours and fly to Phnom Penh at 9:10 AM (EVA 265) and Arrive 11:35 AM June 19th in Cambodia! Hurray. . . . I'm pretty much going on the plane ride across the world. . . Lindberg's got nothing on me. . . ok well he may have gone a little further but he was the pilot so it doesn't count. I am so excited and can't wait to actually get out and get my new comp/trainer in the field. The first thing we do is eat dinner and get my bike. Then it's off to the races. It's so strange to think I've been her over 2 months. .. . I'll finish this email in a little bit.
Hey. . . sorry about the abrupt end to the first half of my email. I just had to go and get my depature haircut. So. . . what's new with me? I don't think anything. I'm still working on the language and ever trying to be ready for the Cambodian People. We'll see how that turns out next week. Oh by the way, if anyone would desire to write me. . . I would strongly suggest using the "DEAR ELDER" website and write using that method. Because my mission uses the pouch system. The address is : Elder Ormsby
Cambodia Phnom Penh Mission
POB 30150
Salt Lake City UT 84130-0150
USA
That's the best way to get a hold of me. Well let me see if i can write something interesting for a change. Oh, well one of the goals my Zone had was to be friend the person sitting next to us on the plane and to share a pass-a-long card with them or briefly see if they are interested in our message. However, my companion and I will have 3 different flights and one of them is like. . . . 15 hours long. the longest of the others is one flight and 3 1/2 hours long. So I'm a little scared about that, but once I start just talking to them . . . I'm sure it it'll be fine. I guess I'll have plenty of time to study. Well the soaking fingers in the vinegar continues, but they are almost completely healed. Oh. . . and the cambodian people will most likely refer to me as Elde Awhms Bei. . .which literally means Elder "Uncle Cabbage" which i think is a pretty sweet name. Not really fiercesome or anything but cool all the same. Well I'd just like to end by telling you I'm still having the time of my life and can't wait to share this message with the world. The Gospel is true and Christ is our Savior. I love you all and wish to hear from you soon!
-Elder Ormsby
Well this is officially the beginning of my last week at the MTC and I now have my flight plans for Cambodia. Here's the deal:
Detla air Lines: flight 1133 I leave 9:23 PM 17th June I Arrive at LAX 10:34 PM Then I leave from LAX 1:30 AM 18th of June (EVA airways flight:15) and Fly to . . . . Taipe Taiwan and Arrive 6:20 AM on June 19th then I wait another 3 hours and fly to Phnom Penh at 9:10 AM (EVA 265) and Arrive 11:35 AM June 19th in Cambodia! Hurray. . . . I'm pretty much going on the plane ride across the world. . . Lindberg's got nothing on me. . . ok well he may have gone a little further but he was the pilot so it doesn't count. I am so excited and can't wait to actually get out and get my new comp/trainer in the field. The first thing we do is eat dinner and get my bike. Then it's off to the races. It's so strange to think I've been her over 2 months. .. . I'll finish this email in a little bit.
Hey. . . sorry about the abrupt end to the first half of my email. I just had to go and get my depature haircut. So. . . what's new with me? I don't think anything. I'm still working on the language and ever trying to be ready for the Cambodian People. We'll see how that turns out next week. Oh by the way, if anyone would desire to write me. . . I would strongly suggest using the "DEAR ELDER" website and write using that method. Because my mission uses the pouch system. The address is : Elder Ormsby
Cambodia Phnom Penh Mission
POB 30150
Salt Lake City UT 84130-0150
USA
That's the best way to get a hold of me. Well let me see if i can write something interesting for a change. Oh, well one of the goals my Zone had was to be friend the person sitting next to us on the plane and to share a pass-a-long card with them or briefly see if they are interested in our message. However, my companion and I will have 3 different flights and one of them is like. . . . 15 hours long. the longest of the others is one flight and 3 1/2 hours long. So I'm a little scared about that, but once I start just talking to them . . . I'm sure it it'll be fine. I guess I'll have plenty of time to study. Well the soaking fingers in the vinegar continues, but they are almost completely healed. Oh. . . and the cambodian people will most likely refer to me as Elde Awhms Bei. . .which literally means Elder "Uncle Cabbage" which i think is a pretty sweet name. Not really fiercesome or anything but cool all the same. Well I'd just like to end by telling you I'm still having the time of my life and can't wait to share this message with the world. The Gospel is true and Christ is our Savior. I love you all and wish to hear from you soon!
-Elder Ormsby
Danny's seventh e-mail
Hello everyone out amongst Babylon. It's great to hear from you as always and I appreciate your thoughts and prayers. This has once again been a very fast week and I only have one more week before I leave for Cambodia. It's really very very very exciting. My teachers has told us that his flight though was around 30 hours or so. Wow, I think I might die on that plane. 30 hours is an eternity on a plane and I don't know what I'm going to do. Well it's official now, I no longer am speaking english. I still can't read very fast but it's coming. As far as my fingers are going they are finally finally finally beginning to heal. And for good. Last week I went and saw the dermatologist again and he had me soak my fingers in vinegar 3 times a day for a week. I'm not going to lie, every time I did it. . . .I felt like I was purposefully setting my fingers on fire. It hurt so bad. I was tough though, and to everyone else, it seemed as if I had drifted into paradise. (while soaking them).
Something worth mentioning is that Sister Dibb. (President Monson's daughter) came and spoke to all the missionaries. She was wonderful, her whole talk was about her experiences with her father. Remarkably President Monson's family sounds strangely simliar to my own family. He had a large family and they had family gatherings and he brought his dates to the family activities to I guess get their opinions and such. He's very much like Randy Turner from what she said.
Well. . . I'm just sitting here. . . waiting for my clothes to dry for the second time. I'm very happy and am so blessed to be able to come and serve the Lord. I truly have felt His influence so much stronger than I've ever felt before. He's carried me a long way, over compensating my efforts tenfold upon tenfold. I love this work (and believe me, it's work.) One thing we were able to watch was Elder Holland's talk on my Missionary Work is so hard and why living the gospel is hard. He said the reason is because "Salvation is not a cheap experience. It never was and it never has been and it never will be. Our salvation required the best blood. If you ever wonder sometimes in life (missionary work) about why things are hard, or if there isn't an easier way, don't forget that you aren't the first to ask that same question. Christ, God Himself, fell on His Face and asked that same question, 'if this cup can pass from me, let it pass." I can tell you this. I absolutely believe that. I know this is the truth and the reason why life is hard is because Salvation isn't cheap, it required the ultimate sacrifice, and if we have to take a step or two towards calvary, spend a minute or two in Gethsemane, be grateful. Because the price has been paid.
Well I guess that's my inspirational thought for the week.
I love you all and hope to hear from you soon!
-Elder Ormsby
Something worth mentioning is that Sister Dibb. (President Monson's daughter) came and spoke to all the missionaries. She was wonderful, her whole talk was about her experiences with her father. Remarkably President Monson's family sounds strangely simliar to my own family. He had a large family and they had family gatherings and he brought his dates to the family activities to I guess get their opinions and such. He's very much like Randy Turner from what she said.
Well. . . I'm just sitting here. . . waiting for my clothes to dry for the second time. I'm very happy and am so blessed to be able to come and serve the Lord. I truly have felt His influence so much stronger than I've ever felt before. He's carried me a long way, over compensating my efforts tenfold upon tenfold. I love this work (and believe me, it's work.) One thing we were able to watch was Elder Holland's talk on my Missionary Work is so hard and why living the gospel is hard. He said the reason is because "Salvation is not a cheap experience. It never was and it never has been and it never will be. Our salvation required the best blood. If you ever wonder sometimes in life (missionary work) about why things are hard, or if there isn't an easier way, don't forget that you aren't the first to ask that same question. Christ, God Himself, fell on His Face and asked that same question, 'if this cup can pass from me, let it pass." I can tell you this. I absolutely believe that. I know this is the truth and the reason why life is hard is because Salvation isn't cheap, it required the ultimate sacrifice, and if we have to take a step or two towards calvary, spend a minute or two in Gethsemane, be grateful. Because the price has been paid.
Well I guess that's my inspirational thought for the week.
I love you all and hope to hear from you soon!
-Elder Ormsby
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