¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ !!!!!!!!!

He's back . . .

. . . ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and he's awesome!!!!!!!! . . .

. . . and he's still using Spanish punctuation . . .

. . . photo overload here . . .

Juan week

Hey!

Well, this is the last time I will be communicating with you electronically. Thanks for your emails full of stories and help over the past two years. They really helped me get through some rough times. Thanks.

This week was pretty good. We had interviews with President. It went pretty well. We also ran around helping the zone out all week. But as for our area . . . it's not so white right now. But we'll see what we can do this week.

Today, I hiked a giant mountain. It's giant, in case you didn't catch the adjective earlier. We went with Elder Bishop and his "son", Elder Clark. It was kind of a family trip. Bishop and I are "brothers", Hunter is my son, Clark is my "nephew", and Hunter and Clark are "cousins". It gets kind of complicated. But it was fun.

Yesterday, we got permission to go to Ecatepec to visit some families. One of the families wasn't there, which was sad. But we went and saw Dafne and her family, aka the swing set family. It was awesome seeing them. They are doing great and will be getting sealed in May.

I still can't believe that I'll be home next week. It doesn't feel real. Yesterday, my ward had me share my testimony, but it still didn't feel real. Every week in church, the hermanas sign up to give us lunch. This week, the list filled up too fast, and so all of the other families signed up to give us dinner, too. I think we will be eating a lot this week - probably too much - but I'm not complaining.

Well, two years went by really fast. Some days, I thought it would never end, but as a whole, it flew by. Sometimes, I feel that I haven't changed much, but as I think back to how I was before, I've changed completely. That doesn't mean that I will be coming home like one of those super spiritual/weird ex-missionaries, but these two years have definitely changed my life for the better. The most important thing that I have learned out here is that Jesus Christ is our Savior. He is the only One who can help us reach eternal life with our families with our Father in Heaven. He willingly came to this earth to give His life for us. He did this all without wanting to receive recognition or glory. He is the Son of God and the only One who can help us reach true happiness. I love Him and am honored to have been on His errand for the last two years.

I don't know what life after the mission will bring, but I'm excited and ready. I'll tell you all a secret though . . . I'm scared to death.

I love you all. Thank you for everything. We'll see you in seven days. Peace. Keep it real.

Love

Elder Andrew Davis Romney

I guess I can start counting the days

Hello?

Hey family. Everything is going great here ~ south of the border. Being with Elder Hunter is awesome. He brought the excitement that I needed to be able to finish like I want. We are working hard and doing everything possible to help out the zone. I was sad to see [Elder] Soriano go. The truth is, we got along great. He was hilarious . . . but . . . it's good that Hunter is with me now. These last two weeks are going to fly.

We had the baptism! It was incredible and I will never forget it. Her name is Evelyn Monroy. Her parents were baptized a year ago with Elder Brown and Zepeda. They are an incredible family. Hermano Monroy is our ward mission leader and Hermana Monroy is the RS Secretary. They will be going to the temple in a month to get sealed. Anyhow, Evelyn is 19 years old and she was actually the one who let the missionaries in when they knocked on their door. She never got baptized due to some doubts and a boyfriend that didn't approve of the church. Every missionary for the past year has tried to teach and baptize her. She is always super nice to us and loves talking, but never really wanted to go to church.

When I arrived here, I decided to not even bother with her because if the other elders couldn't convince her, I couldn't either. So I talked to her, but not about going to church and stuff. But the day I went to the temple for the sealing, Elder Soriano went and invited her to church. She went! That was the first miracle. Then, in our second lesson with her, we taught about agency and making her own decisions. We then asked her if she had ever prayed to know this was true. She started crying and told us that she always knew it was true. The spirit was so strong. We asked her what she should do if she knew it was true. She said get baptized. I just looked at her and asked, "When should we fill up the font?" She just laughed and accepted a baptismal date.

It was an incredible experience. Her dad was going to baptize her, but about two hours before the service, she called us and asked if I could do it. I was pleased to. Yesterday, her dad confirmed her. He didn't really know how to, but the bishop whispered in his ear what to say. It was really awesome . . .

So, that's about it. We are working hard and loving this last little bit. To be honest, I still can't believe I'm coming home in two weeks. It doesn't seem real. Oh well, that just makes it easier and faster.

I love you all and am thankful for everything you have done for me.

Keep it real.

Love,

Drew

P.S. I got in to BYU. Now the question is . . . "Do I really want to go?" I'll just let it marinate.

Sorry for the delay

Hey Mom!

Sorry for not writing yesterday, as promised. We got done late with the consejo and then had some important appointments. But, here I am today. I remember Dad told me that there was only one thing that he demanded from me as a missionary . . . write your mother every week! I will complete that requirement.

This week has been pretty wild. We didn't have the baptism like we wanted. She was having monthly problems, if you know what I mean. But she is going to get baptized this week, probably Friday or Saturday. So I will tell you about her next week.

Last week we had an incredible zone conference. President was a little bit upset because of some problems with laziness and whatnot in the mission, so he took the opportunity to set us straight. Since I was in the offices, I had had the opportunity to see him mad before, but I think it was a shock to many. It was really good, though, because we needed it as a mission. But after setting us straight, he taught us so much. He talked a lot about being prepared and ready to use the priesthood. He shared many personal stories that he doesn't share often and the spirit was incredibly strong. It was probably the best conference of my mission.

Yesterday, we had a consejo with the district leaders of the mission and Arnett and I taught one of the workshops. It went pretty well. But to finish off the five hour consejo, some zone leader stood up and made a really dumb comment trying to attack the assistants of the mission. President was furious and stood up and set the elder straight. After which, Elder Heap, Elder Romney (third person), and Elder Arnett got up and also put this elder in his place. It was pretty sweet, although his comment ruined the whole consejo and made everyone real unfomfortable. But it's all good. President got up at the very end and fixed the situation. He always tells us that communication is an art. He is DaVinci then . . .

Everything was cool after that. It was just kind of weird and uncomfortable for a bit. Everyone went home edified and we all learned, so it was good. There has been a bit of rebellion as of late in the mission which has caused there to be some changes . . . My companion has given up on being a leader and asked President to change. It kind of makes me sad, because I have been trying to help him out and training him, but he just doesn't like work or responsibility. So, we were notified in the morning that tomorrow he will be going to a new area as senior companion. I bet you are wondering who will be my new companion, right? Drumroll please . . . . . Elder Hunter!!!!!

That's right. The fruit of my loins will be coming here with me tomorrow. I am so excited I can't contain myself. I will be finishing my mission with probably my favorite companion (no offense to the others, you were all great, but he's my child).

So that's the great news for the day. I hope you are all as happy as I am. I was pleased to hear that Dad's doctor has a new idea. I'll be praying.

I love you all.

Keep it real.

Drew Romney

p.s. I got the [package] and shirts a couple weeks ago. Thank you! And yesterday, I received all of the [birthday] cards. Thank everyone {SERIOUSLY . . . THANKS EVERYONE!!!} for me. That was probably the coolest thing I've received since I've been here. Only twenty [out of twenty-one] arrived, but I bet that other one is just a straggler and will be here shortly. I imagine it's from Craig? {Don't blame Craiggers. Blame Mom for getting the card to Grandma Romney a little late . . . oops!}

Bye.

The real email wHill come tomorrow

Hey Mom . . .

Thank you all for the emails, birthday shoutouts and wHatnot. Very appreciated. I wHill be writing you tomorrow because I'm going to the offices right now. WHe have a consejo again tomorrow and I wHill be participating so I have to plan part of it wHith some others.

I love you all.

Keep it real.

Love,

Drew

Explanation: (extremely bad video quality!)

What the heck is Twitter?

As a missionary, you miss out on a lot of worldy stuff, and that's fine. But, there are some things that you hear about all the time, but never have the chance to learn what they are. Twitter {1} or Tweeter or something like that is all over the place. Is it like the new Facebook or something? I don't even know how to use Facebook {2}. I feel like when I get home, I will be like Austin Powers, brought back to life after thirty years of being frozen.

Example . . . This last week, I found out that the incredibly ridiculous song that just says "Poker Face Po Po Po Po Po Poker Face" for like nine minutes is sung by a new artist named Lady Gaga {3}. Who knew? I have heard that song daily for the past five months and always thought it was Christina Aguilera or someone who was popular six years ago. I feel like an old man.

Also, they are coming out with an Ironman 2. That's funny. I was in the MTC when the first one came out and they are already making a sequel.

Okay, sorry about that. This week was pretty cool. I went to Teotihuacan again. A bunch of Mexicans/Elder Jon Arnett from my generation were going, so I said, "What the hay", and I tagged along. It was fun.

We are finally going to have a baptism this week! I'm pretty stoked about it. I'll wait to tell you about her until she actually gets baptized. I don't want to jinx it. But it will be an answer to many of my prayers when she gets baptized. This ward has been pretty tough and has many, many problems that we have to deal with as well, so it's nice to finally baptize. Side note: It will be awesome going back to a functioning ward.

Bueno pues, {well, then} that's about everything I got. Hopefully, you don't mind the short letter. If it makes you feel better, I'm coming home in like twenty-seven days!

I love you all. I will be praying for you all ~ as always. Keep it real.

Love

Elder Romney

{1} Twitter is a mystery to me, too. I really don't get it!

{2} I signed up last week so I could join team Nate.

{3} Probably the most mysterious of all!

The long letter (¡and a milestone!)

Hey fam . . .

Well, sorry for the delayed letter. Hopefully, I can hook you up with a big fatty letter with some juicy details in about thirty minutes before I have to be home. Let's get this thing going . . .

Saturday was the best day of my life. Yep, I said it. The day, as a whole, wasn't great, but the experience of being in the temple with Teresa and Edgar made it the best day of my life. We, Elder Hunter, Elder Bishop and I, showed up at about 9:30 because the sealings were supposed to start at 10ish. But, since the only day the temple is filled here in Mexico City is Saturday, we waited around until 2ish for them to get sealed. The three of us were nervous wrecks thinking that we were going to miss it or they weren't going to let us know when they were going to do the sealing, but everything was fine. They received their endowments earlier that day and were waiting up by the sealing rooms that whole time.

Anyhow, so when we finally got up there we entered into the sealing room and there was my whole first ward. My first ward made it their ward temple day and had three families get sealed in one day. The three of us walked in the room like celebrities and the whole ward went crazy when they saw us again. It was really awesome. The family that Elder Bishop baptized got sealed first, so we waited a bit longer. Then, the other family came in, (who we didn't know that well) and got sealed. And, finally, at about 3ish Teresa and Edgar were sealed.

It was the most amazing feeling in the world. They walked in and you could just tell there was a difference in them. They looked even happier than normal, even with the four-hour wait they endured. After they were sealed as a couple, their two kids, Celysmar and Lalo, walked in dressed in white. I couldn't help but cry like a baby. Elder Bishop told me that he had never seen me cry before . . . well ~ he has now, dang it. It was the most incredible thing to see.

I was mostly impressed with the reverence of the children during the sealings. All three families had a child under the age of four, but they were all incredibly reverent. I am thankful that the Lord helped them understand the importance of the event. Right after the sealing, they went back to running and screaming, but they were at least calm for the thirty-minute sealing.

I would say that the feeling that I felt inside the temple that day was even greater than when I was able to be in the temple with both parents, three sisters, and three brother-in-laws. Well, it's probably a tie, but I know that if it weren't for the eternal family that I have, I would have never been able to see the sealing of this new eternal family.

P.S. The only one missing from my family that day was my future wife. Who knows who that lady will be? But I know she will be like an "eleven", have the same passion for the Suns that I do, and will go with me to In-n-Out on Sunday nights at midnight. (Prereqs.)

I was able to see another awesome blessing there as well. An hermana that was inactive when Hunter and I were there was now in the temple and she informed us that she had just been called as the Relief Society President. That made me so happy to see because Hunter and I had really tried hard to get her going back to church, and she did. I loved that.

Enough about Saturday, as incredible as it was. Today, we had consejo. It was incredible. President talked about Francis for a while and we all learned of the miracle recovery he has made. Then we all talked about why the Lord lets bad things happen to good people (thank you for the article, Manders). It was a very spiritual moment for me and I received many answers to prayers today. It was awesome.

Well, the Elders that leave next always bear their testimonies at the last consejo. It was my turn today. It was really weird. It still hasn't hit me that I'm going. But it is coming soon. Saturday really helped me raise my spirits after a rough week last week with Francis and Dad and wHatnot.

I love you all. Enjoy the photos. There are a few of me playing with Lalo so he wouldn't run around like a crazy man/cry the whole time. That was kind of my job.

Keep it real. Thanks for the info about Francis and everything. Love you.

Love,

Andrew Davis Romney

Lalo with Elder Romney - just doing his job

Congratulations to Teresa and Edgar

Lalo, Edgar, Celysmar and Teresa

Edgar, Teresa and family with a friend (Elder Martinez) and "celebrity" missionaries

Group hug ~ That's Elder Bishop hoisting the little boy overhead

Elder Hunter (with his back to us) and Elder Drew

Drew's little flying buddy, Lalo,

with Elder Martinez, Elder Hunter and Teresa looking on

Quick

Hey, I don't have much time, but I will write you guys tomorrow night probably. I am here close to the offices waiting to have consejo tomorrow.

Thanks for the info about Nate-dog. He will be fine.

The sealing was absolutely the most awesome event of my mission. I'm sure Hunter has already sent photos. I'll send a bunch tomorrow along with details.

I love you all and will be praying for you all.

Love,

Drew

Medical Update

Elder Nate Francis was flown by medical transport from Mexico City to Portland, Oregon late Monday evening - arriving early Tuesday morning - where he will be treated in the burn center. At this point, he is expected to stay for one to three weeks. His sweet mom has agreed to send me updates which I will forward on to Drew.

This will be a quick one

Hey fam . . .

I MIGHT be able to write more later, but who knows? I just went to the hospital to see {Elder - see photos from last week's post} Francis. He is doing a lot better today. He only can have visits for one hour every day, and President let {Elder} Arnett and I have that hour today. He was very happy to see us and is feeling a lot better. Story...

He was at his church lighting the boiler (gas water heater) when the boiler exploded. It was a new boiler and he was just lighting it as he had done a million times before, so it indeed was a complete accident. The explosion threw Francis back and the boiler broke part of the wall. The boiler was in a little shed next to the church and the heat was so strong from the explosion that the door melted shut. It is kind of a horror story and I cry just thinking about it, but with the help of two strangers that heard the explosion and his companion, they got the door opened and Francis was taken to a hospital nearby. He was left with severe burns to his hands, arms, neck and face, with his hands and arms being the worst.

He was then shipped to the best hospital in Mexico and they started to clean him up and do surgery to remove the burned skin from his arms and hands. President, Sister Nancollas, and the mission doctor have been visiting when they can, but he is in intensive care and they don't let many visitors in.

We all heard the news a few hours after it happened. Arnett and I thought it would be good to fast for him, but wanted all of the missionaries to do it, too. We quickly organized the fast to start Sunday at 6:00 pm. Sunday morning he was not doing so well and thought he would need skin grafts on his hands, arms and face. His eyes were swollen shut and he was in a lot of pain. When we visited him today, the mission doctor was also there and told us that he looked a hundred times better. When we asked Francis how he was doing, he told us that Sunday night he started feeling a lot better. He didn't know that hundreds of missionaries were fasting for him right then. Anyhow, the doctors say that he has made a "miracle" recovery since yesterday.

This experience, although terrible, has taught us all the power of fasting and prayer. He was completely normal, making jokes and wondering how the Blazers did this week. We were joking so much that his lips started hurting. Whoops! But he is doing great. Francis will be flown in a special plane to a burn center in Portland. His dad is a hospital administrator (aka hookups). He should fully recover in 3-4 weeks in the burn center.

Anyhow, I have to go to my junta right now. I don't think that I will be able to write more later. Just keep Nate-dog in your prayers. Oh yeah, I'm doing great. Happy, healthy, all that stuff.

I love you all and hope you are all doing well.

Love,

Drew

{Elder Francis was supposed to go home today.}