MTC- Week Uno!

HELLO MY DEAR FAMILY!!! Mom, Dad, Sammi, Connor!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Can you believe it's almost been a week?! SO crazy!

So I've gotta be honest. Those few minutes right before and right after you guys dropped me off here were the hardest moments of my life. They shuffled me into a room packed with a bunch of new teary-eyed missionaries, all getting tags and their pictures taken of their puffy faces and red eyes. I got 15 pounds (literally) of new materials, then got shown to my room where I dropped off all 2 tons and 15 pounds of my luggage and new stuff. I felt like sitting on my brand new military-style bed and just crying. But i didn't have time to- I got sent right to class where we immediately started learning Spanish!!

This is where I met my Companion while I'm here at the MTC, Elder Linford. I LOVE HIM. He is literally a testament of God's love for me- he is not only funny and loving and smart and hard working, but he is obedient and shares the same immense love for the Savior that I do. We are already extremely good friends and get along great! Our teaching style is similar and we make an AWESOME team!!

Not only that, but Me and Elder Linford have the best roommates AND best District in the whole MTC. Our roommates, Elder Timoteo and Elder Riggs- both hilarious and dedicated to the work! I love every single Elder in our District. There are 10 of us, and we are so tight!! We all laugh and joke and have fun- but we're all dedicated to our Missions and know when and how to buckle down and work. We have two teachers, Hermana Dezzeo and Hermano Rivero. Hermana Dezzeo is a
Returned Sister Missionary, she's a Native from Venezuela and is so awesome! Hermano Rivera is also an RM, and he's from LONDON!! He has a way awesome accent! Both of them are pro not only at teaching Spanish, but teaching the Gospel. It's weird, this whole experience- and it seemed surreal at first. BUT truthfully, I LOVE the MTC. I've never felt this close to the Savior. I constantly have the Spirit with me and can feel the love of my Heavenly Father as I work diligently for his Great Plan!!

I'm the Pianist- FOR THE ENTIRE BRANCH. RIDICULOUS. The Branch President told me that I was an answer to their prayers- the Branch I'm in hasn't had a single Piano-playing Elder or Sister for 5 WEEKS until me!! Weird isn't it?
It's kinda Mormon-standard to be able to plunk out a few hymns... you'd think that out of 100+ missionaries in a branch you'd find someone who could...

YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE THIS- I'm ACTUALLY on a schedule. ACTUALLY. I ACTUALLY sleep at 10:30 and wake up- get this- a few minutes BEFORE my alarm clock goes off at 6:30. Apocalyptic, right?

The schedule here is busy- we're always doing things!! I miss you guys like crazy, but I have no time to sit around and mope about it- busy busy busy!!!! AHH!! I'm sending a Memory Card throught the Mail, It has a bunch of pictures I've taken already- If you could download them and make me like a folder for all my pictures I send home that would be AWESOME!! :)

I love getting packages and mail- It makes my day. :)

I go to the Temple every monday morning! It's wonderful!! We just went this morning
and it was great!!! :D

I've been praying SO hard for you guys. I love you all SO incredibly much- it's basically ridiculous. I thought I would have had at least a FEW breakdowns already... I've only had one-- on Thursday night I took a shower and just sat under the water and cried my eyes out. HA- call me pathetic.

Still. I know I'm doing the right thing. I can feel the Lord's guiding hand as I prepare to serve the people of New York!! :D I know the Church is true!!! It would suck pretty bad if it wasn't.

Please write me back soon- I would love to hear from you all! Please put my address as my Facebook status- so people can write me!!
Pray for my success!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Be safe, Be happy, be smart, be prayerful.... All that jazz :)

Always and Forever,
Yours truly,
Elder Brandon David Hellberg