May 26, 2008

Greetings from Wilmington "Zion". So the Pax factor is home and it sounds like he has been thoroughly converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am trying my hardest to get there but its a little bit more difficult than I had previously imagined. I really want to learn the idea of selfless service, but my prayers for the most part, remain selfish. Maybe in two years I will have the charity that Jeff has and cry at my homecomming. Well it has been a pretty standard week in the mission field. We talked to a bunch of drunk people, saw a few drug dealers, said hello to Chantel Newman and tried to solve her baby momma drama, and then eat some delicious food at sister Eubanks home (the recovering addict who has replaced drugs with the gospel and good cooking). This week Sister Eubanks cooked us some pasta. While preparing It I noticed that every can of tomato soup was expired and bulging. However, it was indeed the greatest pasta I have ever tasted. We also had an active member lesson with Aja Redmond, a single mother who faithfully attends church. It was a very spiritual lesson, however, Aja's three children Justice, Sypher, and Reality were consistantly disturbing our lesson. I think that I will have Aja name my children I love her style. People name there children after the weirdest things here. I think the weirdest name i've heard out hear was "Queen Nigerria." Today was the annual ward picnic at Fox point, which is a park right on the delaware river. Its a beautiful park surrounded by the scenic Dupont chemical plant. The water was a increadible merky emeral color from all of the chemicals that are dumped in the river. Well I have to go we are eating at the Olive Garden today before district meeting and I don't want to be late. Tell Ian that I will reply to him if he gives me his address so I can send a letter. Also ask if the Gimps can do a religious CD so I can hear how my boy is doing. I dont have many CD's and the ones that I have I have listened to a thousand times so if anyone wants to donate CD's to me I would be more than happy.

Please Write Comments!

Hi to everyone who reads Romney's blog. I hope you are enjoying all of his many stories. I enjoy being able to post the highlights from the family e-mail he writes each week. He wants to hear from you and so I am writing this post to tell you all that if you make comments on the letters they will get to him. I paste the comments you write into an e-mail I send him each week, so if you think something is particularly funny or just want to write him about what is going on in your life you can do that and I promise it will get to him.
-Catherine (Romney's sister)

May 19, 2008

Greetings from WIlmington, "Where the only mountains you will see are Baptist churches (i.e. Mt. Zion Holy Epsicople Trinity Church/ Mount Faith Hill of the Apostles)." In all of my days I have never seen so many churches. Big churches, small churches, round churches, square churches, churches that meet in amphitheaters, churches that meet in basements; I have seen them all in Wilmington.
This last week Elder Witt and I were walking in downtown WIlmington and we spotted what appeared to be a club. When we looked closer, we discovered that the club was actually a church adorned with black lights and neon pictures from the New Testament. We decided that we would go in to explore the church. The moment I set foot in the building my nostrils detected the familiar and potent smell of a cracked out hobo (which smells like a mixture of BO, dirt, sulfuric acid, and alcohol). When I looked in the room, my eyes confirmed what my nostrils smelled. There were a group of homeless men dancing around in a prayer circle. To the side of them was a band of raggedy- looking musicians providing a disjointed melody for the hobos to dance to. Scattered throughout the group of homeless men were a few well- dressed teenagers. Elder Witt and I looked at each other with a confused grin. Immediately a well dressed teenager asked us to join in the praise dance. We declined and went off on our merry way without any explanation of what the heck that church was. I doubt that I will ever see such a weird thing again.
Church corruption exists everywhere. In fact if I were not Mormon I would go into this most profitable profession. Right next to our home is a large church called the tabernacle full gospel. The pastor there is a very rich man. He drives a Bently and probably lives in a very nice house. His congregation, however, are among the poorest people in Wilmington. I talk to people who live in projects and on the streets. His house was built by the blood sweat and tears of these poor individuals. It is pathetic.
Reid, Los Angeles is legit. I am so glad that I am on a mission because it is the reason why the Lakers are winning. The Lord has seen my sacrifice and is blessing the Lakers with a championship ring. Tivo the games so I can watch them when I get back.

May 12, 2008

Greetings from WIlmington "where theres a store on every corner and a graveyard on every street." I appreciate your response to last letter and I am happy to say that me and Elder Witt are getting along great. He reminds me of my favorite cousin. We have alot of fun as well as accomplish a great amount of good. I also enjoyed your article in the Sickle thruster this week. I remember comming on the mission and seeing all these missionaries who were exactly alike. who all spoke the same way and believed the same thing and obeyed the same rules. I promised myself that I would never "drink the Koolaid." As I have matured as both a man and a missionary I have come to the conclusion that every individual subscribes to a doctrine that others believe in. In some way we all drink someone elses koolaide. In some form we are all acted upon. However, it is our choice of whose koolaide we will drink. I have come to the conclusion that I want to live my life in accordance to what the gospel of Jesus Christ teaches. I have made the choice to drink the Kool Aid of missionary work.

Reply to Comments

Dear Sean,I have come to a conclusion. This mission has made me more black than you. I am down with all the knew lingo and phrases that you haven't even heard about yet. I also know how to do the DMACK, the Spongebob, the Run-forest, and the Spider man, but you've probably never heard about those dances because your not black enough. You also may be thinking that these dances dont exist, but they do. Youtube them you will see. Chitlins are the most legit things in America. Have you ever had sweet potato pie?Eric man I love you. I think about you, will, and the rest of the gang all the time. This mission is awesome. I am so excited for the rest of it. When we get home were gonna hang out and then were going to go into the peace core and head out to Africa. Its going to be so tight. Will can come along as well.
-Romney

May 5, 2008

  The highlight of my week was Nina Martinez baptism which almost did
not take place. The Martinez family awoke to their dog suffering a
horrible and painful death. As for me and my companions we showed up to the
church at three o'clock (when the baptism was intended to occur) to
find that no one was at the building. Eventually, however, the Martinez
family showed up and we were ready to do the baptismal service when a man
from Georgia came into the building and told us that he had drove all
the way from Savannha to refinish the church basketball court and he
only had four hours to do so. After much discussion and bargining he
somehow agreed to allow the baptismal service to take place. It was in the
words of Shakira Martinez (Nina's mother) "a hot mess."  

April 28, 2008

Greetings from Wilmington "where the most common profession is
collecting cans off the street." My newest companion is.... Elder Toolson.
However, transfers occurred this week and two other missionaries will be
assigned me in my area. So in other words I will be in a missionary three
some. As for Elder Toolson, he will be headed off to be an Assitant to
the President. I guess his lattest program "Inflect" has really caught
the attention of Salt Lake and will be instituted in every ward and
mission in the world. My guess is that he will be headed on a plane
flight to salt lake before the next transfer is over to perform a tutorial
on his newest product.
 My first baptism will be held this week. Nina Martinez has shaped up
and on Saturday is planning to be baptized. I am quite excited for this
event. She is only elveen years old, but she is so smart. It took a
while for her to believe, but now she does and I am glad that this is so.

We had three investigators come to church on Sunday and another three
less active members. I am quite excited and am looking foreward to the
future. It was a better week than last to say the least.
On Saturday Elder Toolson and I had just gotten out of our lesson with
one of our best investigators when we heard a "hey yall!" Our heads
turned and we saw a car quickly pass by us. The driver stopped and poked
her head out of the car window. It was one of our former investigators
Ranisha. She is a very proud, spiritual, and large black women. I ran
up to her and began to talk to her. I quickly switched the topic to one
that was gospel related and then set a date to meet with her. It was a
wonderful conversation until I looked down and realized that she had no
pants or underwear on. I Stopped what I was saying mid sentence turned
my back and walked away. I experienced a great deal or physical,
mental, and emmotional trama. I went blind until I woke up today. I reallly
am traumatized.
Well that is about all that occured this week.