More Bronx

Hey all!
What a week! Especially SUNDAY! ahh! Story Time- SO Saturday night, we visited our most SOLID investigator, named Sonia- her baptism is scheduled for a little less than 2 weeks from now! She was so excited for church the next day and expressed to us her love of the Gospel- the spirit was so strong. She also has 2 sisters (Ruth and Daniella, Ruth is a Member, Daniella is a non-member) and her mother who live with her. Daniella and her Mother haven't shown any interest (in fact, quite the opposite) in the Church for YEARS. ANYWAY- so we left Saturday night and were SO looking forward to the next day for her to come to church! We got up Sunday morning, called a few potentials- and unfortunately all fell through- but we still had Sonia. I called her- and she said she wasn't coming. I was crushed. I didn't understand- she was so excited to come to church again-
Why would she just not come? She explained to me that she had to go to Manhattan because her Mom wanted to go shopping. I was so disappointed. I expressed to her over the phone how I felt and actually got a little angry. I went to the Church- red faced and feeling really low. About 10 Minutes before Sacrament meeting started at 1... Here comes Sonia.. WITH Ruth, Daniella, and her Mom! All LAUGHING! I was SO taken aback- she ran up to me and said "Gotcha!" SO cruel! hahaha!! Although I was startled (and to be quite honest I did NOT think this joke was funny), I was SO overjoyed that she came- and EVEN brought her family- who later expressed that they loved the services and we now have return appointments to teach them all!! Woot!!

The other day, we went on a Split- I went with another AWESOME Elder in my District (and Apartment) named Elder Fox. We went on a BLITZ and contacted everyone we saw! haha! Such a rush. Mostly terrifying- but so spiritually fruitful and worth it!
We also went to an old media referral that was never contacted - a family named Capellan. We climbed- 10 FLIGHTS OF STAIRS to the top of their apartment building and waited for about 10 minutes at the door. We were about to leave when she answered. Turns out, she is an inactive member- she was baptized back in Santo Domingo in the DR but hasn't been to church for 15 years! She has 4 kids at home and a husband. She told us that a few days before we visited, she had a strong feeling that she needed to get back to church and get her husband and children baptized. We have return appointments and we've already re-visited twice and she is SO GOLDEN! Love this Work!!!

These are just 2 stories of MANY awesome experiences I am having. It's so incredible to see the Gospel touch people's lives!
On a different note, i am FALLING IN LOVE with Spanish food. It was just all right before, but that's (I think) because I've never had the real thing. SO GOOD. About every night we get fed by the member families- who LOVE to feed us. They make us these HUGE meals of their native country and they are INCREDIBLE. The only thing is... In the Spanish culture, you must eat EVERYTHING they give you. Some take serious offense if you don't. I HATE TO ADMIT THIS... but I've gained 15 POUNDS in 2 WEEKS. And it's NOT all muscle ( I wish). Haha! I love and appreciate the packages you all send to me here, but PLEASE- I BEG YOU (my BMI begs you too) Don't send me ANY MORE CANDY! I've sworn- SWORN- away with candy and soda. It'll be hard enough staying fit and keeping healthy with the POUNDS of food I get fed every night by the Spanish people here (plus, sometimes we have MORE than one dinner appointment each night!)! Ahhhh!!

I AM getting these weird huge bulky muscles on my SHINS (of all places?) because of all the stairs I am climbing. The apartment buildings have anywhere from 10 to 30 floors (more on the higher bit) and MOST of the elevators in the Bronx are either Broken, or WAY TO STINKIN nasty to get inside.

Did you get my package yet...? hehehehe....

OH and with the CD's you send, can you send my All StateChoir 2008 CD? Love it.

ALSO question for Paaahh-
It's a major debate in my district. Is the 3rd rail that powers the Metro subways electrified to the point that simply touching it could kill you? I thought well SURE its powering the greater part of transportation for NYC... BUT... I saw these HUGE converters onboard the Subways... Which made me wonder if maybe there is TONS of volts through the 3rd rail, but not enough AMPS to do SERIOUS damage to a living organism- maybe the volts are converted onboard. I dunno. Do some research for me hahaha!!
I voted to test it out, but the majority of the missionaries in my District won't let me touch it!! hahahaahah!!

Will someone send me the Woodbriar Ward's address book? that would be very helpful... :)

OH and by the way, I'm the piano/organ/musical number person for our ward. Me and Hermana Walker! Her voice is INCREDIBLE. She represented the Church at this international thing last week held down in Manhatten, and she sang to (and brought to tears) ambassadors from Puerto Rico, Cuba, DR, and Mexico. So tight!

WELL I love you all! Thank you for your love and support!! MUAH!

Elder Brandon Hellberg