Week 16!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

DEAR Home!

Hola! No puedo creer que yo he estado aqui por DOS MESES en Nueva York!

(Hello! I cannot believe that I have been here for TWO MONTHS in New York!)

I'm so excited! I have another baptism is coming up in a few weeks! His name is Mariano- he's from Mexico - and he's so awesome! He's dating one of the members in the ward, and she introduced him to the Gospel and we've been teaching him in the home of one of our recent converts, Miguel. Just as a district we've had 8 baptisms for March! The Field is WHITE all ready to harvest!

Hahaha the wind here is SO INTENSE! Last week, we called Tell Me, the weather system on the phone 1-800-555-8355... The guy's voice explaining the weather is always so cheerful... "Good morning! Today, 19 degrees, Gale Force Winds, and hail the size of marbles!" or "Good Morning! Today, 89 degrees, 100% humidity, get ready for the blistering heat!" Love him. Anyways.. he told us that there would be a DOWNPOUR with 40-45 MPH winds. It. Was. Ridiculous. Hahaha but SO much fun. We walked down the street heading back to our apartment - all bundled up in "waterproof" jackets and shoes and hoods- and our umbrellas did us no good- they inverted and flew away right when you opened them. I'm really not doing a good job of explaining how hilarious it was- you'd have to see it. We were screaming- and couldn't even hear our own screams. I yelled "FIGHT THE POWER!!" probably a hundred times and every 3 steps we took we'd get blown back 2. I was laughing hysterically- I've never felt wind of that magnitude before!!!! It was like a hurricane! I DONT CARE what you say Mr. Mac, MISSIONARIES ARE NOT WATERPROOF. When we finally got into the apartment there were QUARTS of water running off of us and out of our shoes and clothes and hair and everything. Ridiculous. Hahaha!

The work is finally speeding up- after I came in and they divided the areas, there was a lot of work to be done regarding boundaries and records- but all that is sorted out so we can focus ALL our efforts on teaching! We have doubled our investigator pool and our lessons are consistently sweeeet! I have become a fan of something that most missionaries hate- TRACTING! Hahaha! I don't know why! I still dread street contacting (although you'd THINK I would have gotten used to it by now)... but for some reason I love to tract door to door. It's fun- and kind of a rush! You never know what you're gonna get! About 90 percent of the doors that answer are in Spanish, but the occasional one will be in English- which is good too, because if we get a return appointment we pass it over to the English Elders in the area- and they appreciate it because the English work is pretty slow :(

Sister Walker and I performed The Prayer for the stake talent show- hahaha it was a blast! One of the Ward Members recorded it and said she was going to put it on YouTube... but we'll see. Aww man! I love my Zone and district here. They are all hard-working Missionaries with a desire to serve! Plus we are all a bunch of weirdos who know how to laugh too :)

BrandoMoment- So the other day we were on a bus heading back to our apartment - and it was packed with people. Standing room only (and I wouldn't even call it room). I was standing by the back exit and I started to sing Nearer my God to Thee, quiet at first, just to myself. I gradually got louder and louder until I was singing almost at the top of my lungs- the whole bus could hear me. Oddly, I didn't feel ridiculous or strange- I felt... Peaceful. I continued singing like this for about 5 minutes until we came to our stop. I turned around to get out when this HUGE guy- earrings, chains, bling, dental grillz the whole deal- said "hey. Man, I just... (then he paused and looked down at his feet, then back up) "thank you man. Sometimes, even when the rest of the world is going to hell around you, you just gotta sing. Sometimes it's makes things seem alright. Thank you brother. God bless." It really touched my heart- I love the people of New York. They seem like a hard people- but they are incredible.

I have literally seen miracles here. I have seen the Gospel change people's lives- I've witnessed the Healing Power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ fix broken hearts and raise damaged spirits. I LOVE this Gospel with everything that I am. This work is the single hardest thing I have ever done- but I'm here doing it and I know exactly why I am. Because it is true. I love sharing this with people. I love the Spirit that enters into people's lives as they change and grow and better come to know their Savior.

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

Live long and Prosper!

Tell Sammi I say Happy Birthday!! I have a letter in the mail for her, but the mail system we have here for mail here.. is.. well..

B safe! B healthy! B happy!!

Always and Always,

Lil' Elder B-Dawg Hellbergz

Fo sho.