Week 42!

Wednesday, September, 22, 2010

GOOOOOOD MOOORNING from another beautiful day in the Bronx!!

TODAY, we (Elder Peine and I), are meeting some of the Elders from Olmstead (Elder TORRES!!), and are going down to Manhattan to the Museum of Natural History!! SO, If anybody, anywhere, knows anyone that will be there today, text them quick and tell them to look for a group of Missionaries running around down there! We'll probably stop and get a Hotdog right in front too! :)

Did I say the Yankees Game was a blast! So much fun - we got sunburnt (actually a good thing as a Missionary.. usually we're WHITE... even RED is better than reflective WHITE) and overlyexpensive ice cream and hotdogs and the game was great! Haha we got so into it- yelling and cheering and booing with the crazed New Yorkers sitting with us :)

THIS week has been so great! Venecia got baptized and confirmed - it was such a touching and sweet experience. She was so happy and excited and just smiling ear to ear! Since then she has been telling all her friends about the Church and brought several of them to come to the chapel on Sunday for her confirmation - and has invited many to come to the activities this week and Conference these upcoming weeks! She is such a blessing to the family that she lives with. We can tell every time that we have gone over to see her that there is more and more love in that household each subsequent visit.

SPEAKING of CONFERENCE!!! AHHH!! I'M SO EXCITED! Conference is LITERALLY one of the best weekends as a Missionary - (I've only had one Conference so far... BUT STILL it was GRAND.) I love it. We bring as many people as we can and all meet at the Chapel- and the Spanish wards set up BUFFETS in the relief society rooms... And in between sessions it's like a big family social gathering! Then we all hush and get ready for the next session! Haha!

On a different note, I furiously DOMINATED at Apartment Monopoly last P-day. I won with over 35 Million Dollars (World Edition... In Millions not hundreds...) and nearly all the properties on the board, most of which were LOADED with Hotels or multiple houses. Baha. Tycoon, if you will. Plus we all played in Spanish! If you spoke in English at all you lost money! Bahaha!

We have several new people we are teaching right now! I love this area! It's wonderful. One of the families we are seeing is a little family from Puebla, Mexico- they are a Media referral from the MTC! (thank you Elders in PROVO!) We took Finding Faith in Christ over to their house and watched it with them - they loved it - and they love church and everything! They have a cute little girl named Guadalupe!

New York is feeling rather Presidential today!! We caught word this morning in the Laundromat that President Obama is coming to Manhattan today! Maybe we'll see him! Doubt it... but then again, I'm not exactly sure where the United Nations center is here... I'll keep my eyes open!! ;)

Alright - we're off to catch the D train! I'll send PICTURES!!

Speaking of pictures, I'm sending home a memory card very soon!

Next time I email - I'LL BE 20! Can you believe I'm going to be 20! Ridiculous isn't it?? Wish me luck on the TrAnSfOrMaTiOn!! I hear the 19 to 20 jump is a harsh one!!! hehe! Love you!

I love you all SO much.

B safe! B strong! B a Monopoly Tycoon?

CHURCH IS TRUE!

Elder B Hellberg

September 15, 2010

Hello and greetings from a big comfy black laz-ee-boy chair in the Fordham Library, Bronx NY!

Let's see... what's happening here...

It's finally getting chillier! I THRIVE in the colder weather- the heat can be miserable! Finally the light jackets are coming back on, the fire hydrants are closing, and the sweet smell of roasted peanuts and the magic of Christmas-on-its-way fill the air! I'm a fan of FALL! Haha already Elder Peine and I have a contacting tactic... I pull out my Spanish hymn book and belt Christmas Hymns at full volume to a bus or train full of people and he goes and talks to the passengers and gives pass along cards and sees if anyone is interested in having us come visit them! Haha already we're seeing results! Sometimes it's helpful to be loud and obnoxious in public (Hellberg: 1 point)!

We had a really great Mission Conference on Tuesday! All the city Missionaries (North and South Manhattan Zones and Kingsbridge in the Bronx) met up the Manhattan Temple (the Chapel Side) and had a great meeting with President and Sister Smith and President's counselors, President Darger and President Hunt. It's always so neat to get to be with these great men. They put so much time and effort and love into everything they do and prepare for us. Great trainings, great talks, it was just a really good experience. For the Musical number, Sister Walker and I sang "The Olive Tree" while Sister Babb accompanied us. Then we got fed by the local relief society and had a testimony meeting. It's tradition that all the Missionaries going home at the end of the cycle bear their testimonies at Mission Conference, and I am always impressed and touched by the love and growth that the leaving Missionaries have for the people here in New York and for all those they serve with. It's a blessing to be able to serve with such valiant young men and women.

We are teaching a lady named Venecia from the Dominican Republic- and she is getting baptized this Saturday! One day we were about to climb up 6 flights of stairs to see if a family was home, and I saw her at her door with a little baby and decided to talk to her. (Hellberg: 2 points). (I think I've mentioned her in past e-mails…) Such great things have been happening to her since she accepted the lessons and came to church. And last Sunday I had such a tender and sweet experience with her. It was about 10 minutes before Sacrament started, and I was (as usual) fretting about investigators coming or not coming- the typical pre-Sacrament panic attack for most missionaries... and I couldn't see Venecia anywhere. I was very worried, because her baptism is this coming Saturday, and she really needed to be at Church so she could go through with the Baptism. I worriedly asked Elder Otuafi if he had seen her- and he said "Yeah man, she's already here- up on the stand." I turned quickly and saw her- in a black skirt and white blouse- with big golden earrings and hair all dolled-up.. sitting with the rest of the relief society, waiting to sing a song with them for the meeting. She had a huge smile on her face as she laughed with the rest of the relief society sisters. She looked so happy and beautiful. She looked like a different person- she was basically glowing. I had to restrain myself from running up there and hugging her! It was so special. Big tears welled up in my eyes as I sang next to her for the Relief Society/Missionary musical number- Scatter Sunshine. She has been through so many hardships back in the DR and starting off here in the Bronx- but over the past few weeks she has truly found a new family here in the Kingsbridge ward and is loving and embracing the Gospel. She is truly happy and is anxiously awaiting her Baptism this coming Saturday!

We had a freak storm on Monday, (infinitely more powerful that the pansy "Hurricane" that we 'didn't' have, may I add...)! It hit from nowhere! Millions of gallons of water just buffeting the city! It was crazy! Luckily, Elder Peine and I were right next to Polombo's famous Italian pastry shop (convenient, right?) in Little Italy! We sat down and waited out the storm for about 45 minutes, while sipping on INCREDIBLE Italian hot chocolate and Nutella and Melon Gelato... Mmmmm! (Hellberg: 3 points) PLUS we had a few funny conversations with some old ITALIAN men- such fun! PLUS Polombo's was founded by a man named GIOVANNI Polombo! Haha so great. :) Afterwards we ran through what was left of the Thunderstorm (we had not thought to bring umbrellas) and took shelter at Maria's house- a member in Kingsbridge. She and her family are so awesome! They had big ears of corn boiling for us and we all ate ELOTE- one of the things that I now LIVE for here in the Bronx. It's a cob of corn SMOTHERED in Mayo and dipped in a Mexican white powdered cheese (looks like Parmesan) and then coated in sPiCy Chili powder...! It's A M A Z I N G. Often little Hispanic ladies from Puebla or Guevarra Mexico will have carts with coolers full of corn around our area- and it's usually a buck 50 for one- and it's so WORTH IT! Usually I'll try to get at least one a week!! Mmmmm.

I got your packages – thank you so much!! AH MA! I LOVE THE RAZORS YOU BOUGHT ME. They are perfect. I love them! Such a close shave and easy to use and quick and wonderful! And I got the tape Carlie sent me! The silly funny tape from Cedar City and you and Dad at Pagoda and then Carlie at BYU! HaHa! I loved it! I cried and laughed and cried laughing! It was wonderful!

Well I better get going! We have some fun plans for today's P-day! There is a BIG MASSIVE SUPER END-OF-SUMMER-SALES EVENT in Fordham plaza today- and I just must splurge and spoil myself with some souvenirs and things for my birthday! Bahaha! I love you all so much. Thanks for all you do!

CHURCH IS TRUE!!

B safe! B happy! B singing to random strangers at full blast !!!!

Love you all.

Always,

Elder Brandon Hellberg

Elder B's Letter Home September 8, 2010

~~~STEEEERRRRIIIIKKEEEEE 3! YOOOUUUUURRRR OUT!

GOOOOD MORNING from the Grand Concourse Library in the Bronx New York City!!

I've got my tickets, my hat, lots of sunscreen and my camera -- and we're going to the YANKEE GAME!!

Sorry ORIOLES, you're goin DOWN! (I was informed by an angry mob that last night the Orioles won against the Yanks... which means today is Vengeance!!)

Anywho, YES we're excited to go! Quite a few of the Missionaries are going actually- I know of over 25! Haha maybe you can see some of us on the massive ARMITRON if your watching on the TV!! It's a bright sunny day and the game starts at 1 sharp! Go Yankees! (Someone forward this to Jonny... hehehe)

OH YES!

Hello, this is Elder Hellberg reporting from the Bronx New York on the Hurricane that struck the East Coast late last week. All the Missionaries in the area prepared their 72 hour kits, reviewed emergency protocol plans and anticipated the worst.... and it was the LAMEST natural phenomenon I have ever seen. My first Hurricanic experience, and I feel robbed. We barely even had a BREEZE let alone the "Rough Winds" that were reported locally. I am hereby VERY DISAPPOINTED with the pansy attitude of the weather. After 3 months of sheer HOT all of us were expecting at least a fun thunderstorm. Hmph.

Bahah! Speaking of which... the weather is getting colder- so it's time to pull out all my LONG-sleeved white shirts... the problem being that the collars are too tight...! What should I do? I've heard of these collar-extender thingies...? Ma?

After much Sudafed, benadryl, tissues and a little extra sleep/warm noodle soup... Elder Peine and I are once again on our feet and working- thrusters on FULL! We had a WONDERFUL experience last Sunday with baptizing Brother Jaime Francicso- it was such a good moment for us and for him and the ward and everyone! Elder Peine performed the Baptism- it was so graceful and well-done! A perfect first-time in the water! Jaime seemed a little nervous- so Elder Peine took time to explain to him how to hold his nose and sit- how to 'be Baptized', right there quietly in the water in front of everyone. It was such a touching thing for me- I was one of the witnesses- and I could feel Elder Peine's love for Jaime in the way that he spoke to him and in the ordinance itself. I also gave a TALK at the baptism! IN SPANISH! Haha I was SO nervous. I was shaking a little... but I gripped my Libro de Mormon tight and tried to hold steady! I hope nobody noticed how nervous I really was!! Ahh!

Last Saturday Elder Peine and I had the opportunity to go back over to Olmstead to see the Baptism of several of the people I was teaching before I got transferred. It was SUCH a treat to be able to go back over and see! I had wondered early in the week if we were going to be able to go- both of us had been sick with a nasty head-cold and I was worried one of us would be too sick to attend! But in the end all worked out- and it was such a blessing for me. Seeing all the Members that I have taught for the first 5 cycles of my mission was touching. I have such a special place in my heart for Olmstead and its Members!

Just as much as I loved Olmstead, I can tell I'm going to love Kingsbridge also. I LOVE the members here- they are incredible. It's such an adventure to learn a new area and meet all the new members I will be working with for a while! Plus, Kingsbridge has a brand new Member-Missionary program we are doing called 5-5-5! I can't spill much on the details.... highly sensitive top-secret classified information, ya know.... ahem.. but yes I am very excited to be a part of KB and throw my heart into it like I did Olmstead.

One of the really great opportunities we get as Missionaries is to teach the English class every Wednesday night and Sunday night to anyone who wants to come and learn! It's so fun- we stand in these circles and we're called the "instigators” ... or something... we get to stand with a bunch of non-English speakers and get these conversations going in English to help their social use of the language and comprehension skills improve! Haha I love it! One of the harder things for me in teaching it is when somebody doesn't understand me in English, I automatically switch over to Spanish- and we are not supposed to use ANY Spanish in the circle! Agg!

Seriously, dear familia, thank you so much. Ah! I am SO blessed. It's taken me 20 years to finally come to a legit understanding of how blessed I truly am. Parents who love me. A complete and happy, secure and loving family. We are blessed on all aspects of living. (I mean we're all a little crazy, but that only unites us MORE!) I love us!

And yes- I am doing well! Just truckin' along!

I love you more than anything Maaa!

I am HAPPY and EXCITED! and HEALTHY for the most part ;) but yes, I am WELL!

Please don't worry about me more than a loving-concerned mother-with-son-in-the-bronx should be!

WELL- we're off to watch the YANKEES!!!

I love you all so uber much- thank you for your love and support and smiles and letters and prayers!

B safe! B strong! B a YANKEE FAN!!

I just checked... and the CHURCH is STILL TRUE!!

ALWAYS,

Elder B

September 1

September 1, 2010

HURRICANES AND BEDBUGS!! AHHH!!

It's a good thing that Missionaries don't watch the news or read the paper!! We only receive updates from Members and if it's REALLY important, from church leadership.... BUT -- lately the buzz seems to tell us there is a HURRICANE on the way and that NYC has the LARGEST BEDBUG EPIDEMIC in the STATES!! Haha I'm sure my sources are a little skewed... I'll report fully on the outcomes next week. AHEM.

HELLO from the BRONX! It's another b-e-a-utiful morning here in southern New York City... Very bright and warm and all the kids are out playing in the fire hydrants. I truly love NYC. After 7 months of living in the Bronx, I have truly come to be a part of the fast-moving lifestyle that is "New Yorker". I have fallen in love with the City- Every high rise we climb I lose my breath (literally... lots of stairs...) from the incredible views of Manhattan's picture-perfect skyline. It's still amazing to me when I think about the sheer VOLUME of people living here in the city. Crazy.

Sooo. The other morning, it was actually a bit chilly- the first time I've felt chilly in 3 months... anyway - I woke up a little early - about 30 minutes before the alarm and couldn't go back to sleep so I drowsily made my way to the kitchen to make myself some hot chocolate. All I could find was this strange Colombian-brand hot chocolate- I figured a member gave it to one of the Elders in the Apartment. So I boiled some water, got some sugar (and cinnamon and ice... you know who you are)... and made myself a piping hot mug of Coco. I was sitting there, stirring and drinking... when about halfway through I noticed some strange tiny black seeds floating around in my drink. I though it may be just some weird Colombian thing they do to hot chocolate... (Elder Torres said it's customary to put CHEESE in your hot chocolate where he's from....) but I figured better be safe than sorry. Too late. I flipped on the light- and upon closer inspection discovered the little black seeds... to be 40 or 50 roaches happily enjoying a final swim in my coco before I drank them. :) AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Bahaha I'm currently the District joke - "BugEater"... Cool, right? Hmmm…

Last week we had a great Mission Council with President Smith. All the leaders in the Mission took Metro North up to the Scarsdale chapel- It's always a Spiritual experience to discuss with President the needs and success of the Mission! Plus it's always fun to see other Elders from different parts of New York and catch up with old buddies from other areas and meetings.

HOORAY! I love KingsBridge! And my companion and my area and my apartment mates and EVERYTHING! The other day Elder Peine and I were going up to visit a family in a building in our area, when, at the bottom of the stairs we were stopped by this lady who asked us if we were Missionaries. We said yes and continued to speak to her. Her name is Venecia (like the Italian City) and she just arrived here in the United States 3 months ago from the Dominican Republic - and said that she lived very close to the Temple in Santo Domingo, the Capita l- and we began to teach her. While we were teaching her, she got this bright look in her eyes and told us how familiar everything we were saying feels. We invited her to church and she came - and told us afterwards that being in the Chapel felt like being home. We extended the invitation to be Baptized on the 18th of September - and with teary eyes she exclaimed "That's my birthday! I would love to be baptized on my birthday!" She's such a sweet lady - and apparently she went around to everyone in the bottom of her building and told them of the Missionaries - and she invited a lot of them to church - and said they were coming!!

SO excited for the week to come!! We have a Baptism on Saturday, another one on Sunday, and then a YANKEE'S GAME next Wednesday! WOOT! NOT to mention I turn a whopping 20 YEARS OLD on the 28th!! Man- I honestly can't believe I made it to this point! Wow! :)

We went to TARGET this morning - it’s 4 stops on the subway to the Target - And it's RIGHT next to YANKEE STADIUM! We went to buy groceries, and it made me so trunky- I felt like I was back in the Target in SALT LAKE! Not to mention my dreams I've been having lately... AND the fact that KEVIN just got home- AND that Connor has started his FINAL chapter in High School - AND that my siblings are all growing up and becoming attractive and mature and confident looking adults!! (you can quote me on that last one ;) ) I'm just missing home a lot right now. I get lost in thought sometimes on the train and bus. BUT - I'm doing well. I'm having Missionary success and Personal success (Testimony, habits, spiritual growth)... AND in the long run, we'll all be together forever in the Celestial Kingdom ANYWAY, so it will be like this tiny little fraction of time spent apart will LITERALLY be as nothing in comparison to the eternities of INIFINITE JOY!! AHHHHH!! Wow sorry I kinda vomitted all my emotions all over you :) bahahah!

I LOVED the flashdrive!!! AHH!! I CANNOT BELIEVE how different and grown up BOTH SAMMI AND CONNOR look. Mostly CONNOR - but BOTH of them really, it's crazy!! I laughed and cried and loved looking through those pictures of you guys. It means so much to have the family I have. :)

I can't believe it's been over a year since I received my Mission call -crazy! I still remember opening it and reading the letter from the Prophet. I still keep a copy of it with me in my Spanish Book of Mormon- and I read it often! It's a constant reminder of the great responsibility we have as Missionaries and the great trust the Lord is putting in each one of us to honorably represent Him.

The Church is true! I see the lives of those we teach change for the better- families become united, love grows within the home - relationships bloom and flourish- I love this Gospel with all my heart.

B safe! B a Yankees fan! B a BugEater!!

Always,

Elder Brandon Hellberg

HURG!

August 25

Hello Home!!
It's another Gloomy day here in the Bronx!!

Haha so funny, even after 7 months and a transfer I'm still saying hello from my dear old Bronx! I love it! :)

As you know, I'm in KINGSBRIDGE 1st Ward with Elder BRANDON PEINE! (Said "piney")! He says hello!! He's from San Antonio, Texas- and he's GREAT! I love him! He's hilarious and smart and has GREAT Spanish for only being to the MTC and 4 weeks in the field- we're gonna have a blast together I can already tell!!
PLUS- guess what's in MY AREA!! It's called Kingsbridge SE, and it has..... wait for it......
-----Fordham College!!!
-----The New York Armoury (spelling..?)
-----THE BRONX ZOO!! (We're going to the Zoo, We're going to the ZOO!! )

(Ahem- this is where "Madagascar" is based, thankyouverymuch! PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR MAURICE!!)
-----Last and best- LITTLE ITALY!!! (Little Italy BRONX, there's a LIttle Italy Manhattan too..)

AHHHHHH!!! It's this random blob on the map of intensely packed Italian culture- I feel so at home! Haha crazy Italians.... :)

Sister Passantino I'm sure is SO Jealous!! Bwahaha!! They blast Italian music in the streets and have hundreds of Italian restaurants and hundreds of little Italian flags on every street corner and stoplight- we even have some of the Members in our WARD that are Italian!!

Yesterday we went and visited a little half Dominican-half Italian family there- it's SO cool to see the church cross every race, language and culture barrier here in New York. After we visited them, Elder Peine and I bought some 100% Legit Gelato and Cannolli's from a little family owned Italian bakery!! AHH!! Then we skipped down the street singing "like a big aPizza Pie that's AMOREEE!!" Love it!! I wonder if Grandpa Giovanni Bernardo Ciddio knows any families that live here! They are all... well, Italians!!

I already can tell I'm going to love my area and the Ward and my companion. There's just a good feeling here.

It's amazing to me to see the strength of the members here in the Bronx! I love serving here- there must be a reason that I'm still here in the City after 7 months of it! I'm so excited and look forward to working with Elder Peine. We have the same sense of humor- and the SAME FIRST NAME!! Hooray! OH NO TWO BRANDONS!! Our new apartment is a mix of the old one and the new one back in Olmstead. It's not too bad :-) Although we have caught 3 mice already, living in the OVEN! ????

Oh right - forgot to tell you-- mail comes from the Mission Home only on Sundays now. But because of weird schedules and transfers and everything I haven't getten mail for over 2 weeks! :( So this Sunday I should be getting everything from the last 2-3 weeks - BAHAHAHA! ;-)

Ahh! There is this ADORABLE little family from PUEBLA ( haha heads Up Carlie Marie- 4 months now? hehehe Pueblitis...) that live in our Ward- they are so great! We went over last Sunday after church and they fed us these INCREDIBLE tostadas and this Mexican Soup that I've never had before- and they have the cutest little girls- 2 and 4. It seems like all the families we meet here are incredible. But they just LOVE the Missionaries and told us they insist on feeding us at least once a week and that they love having us in their house. We practice teaching them the regular Missionary lessons- even though they know them down pact!

OH DEAR. I'm SUCH A TERRIBLE PERSON. We were over at this family's house few nights ago (also Mexican)- There's the mother Gloria, her boyfriend Roberto, their Daughter Maria (19), their nephew Oscar (32) and three other little ninos that are Maria's little siblings. They fed us chorizo and tortillas- it was incredible- BUT I was eating some Jalapeno peppers... (I kinda eat them like candy know.... me and spicy go very well together..) and I bit into one and all the juice squirted out and flew across the table and hit Oscar square in the EYE!! He screamed and ran to the bathroom to flush it with water- I felt TERRIBLE!! I've heard horror stories of people going BLIND from Jalapeno pepper juice!!!!! Anyway, he came back a bit later and his eye was DARK MAROON- and he was very insistent that he was alright and it didn't hurt but I felt AWFUL! It looked HORRIBLE!! Before we left (and after a million apologies) he said that he would for sure be alright and laughed and said that if he needed he would call us in the middle of the night for a blessing! He was joking, but I still felt terrible! The next day at church- it looked completely better and he joked that he could actually see better- oh the blessings of Missionary-Blessed-Jalapeno juice!! I still feel bad and from now on need to be more careful at how I eat peppers!! Agh!!

My emotions are very near the surface (they usually are) as I received a phone call last night from Elder Torres still over in Olmstead telling me that 5 of the people that we found and began teaching near the beginning of our companionship together in that area, have accepted baptismal dates!!! September 5th and September 18th! I am ecstatic and grateful to be able to be a part of this awesome blessing. I feel honored to be a Missionary for the Lord! I do wish that I could be there to witness the ordinance and follow-up teach them to see them progress in the Gospel- I feel very close to these good people- but I will definitely keep in touch with them and keep them in my prayers. I still feel very connected to the Members in Olmstead and my recent converts over there- but I have a big list of addresses to write them and when I go back to visit I'll look them all up!!

I can't believe Connor has started school already!! AND that he has Mrs. DUFFIN! That's so great! Someone go tell her that I love her and that her son Elder Duffin is amazing and that I loved serving with him. And that he'd better write me. :) And KEVIN is coming home in 2 DAYS! YAY SAMMI!! HOLY SMOKES!! Time is FLYING! And everyone is growing up! Man!

WELL I'm off! We're going to go to Laundry and be Blobs for the rest of the day! We're so tired- we do even more walking in this area than in my last one!! PLUS we only have PARTIAL Metro instead of FULL!! I love you all- thank you for your love and support!
Be safe! Be strong!! BE ITALIAN!!!

CHURCH IS TRUE!!

Always,
Elder Brandon Hellberg

August 18

AUGUST 18, 2010

SO LONG AND FAREWELL OLMSTEAD!!

Alas, I'm being transferred! 7 months of Mott Haven and they are finally Kickin' me out! I feel so attached to my Dear Olmstead 1^st Ward - but the Lord needs me somewhere else - about a half-an-hour away on the BX 22 bus to the other side of the BRONX!! Bahaha out of our 7 other mission zones all over New York STATE - I'm still stuck in my dear old BRONX!! Hahaha I'm a Bronx-baby through and through! Born and raised! I'm wondering if I'll end up like Elder Betenson and serve half my mission here! So yes, I'm being transferred to the Legendary KINGSBRIDGE! My new companion Elder Piney only has 4 weeks here in New York- but I know his trainer Elder Simmons- and if the "Like-father-like-son" saying applies, he's gonna be GREAT! I'm Elder Piney’s follow-up trainer!! AKK!! If I didn't know Spanish before, I'd better hurry up and learn it!!! Hahaha

Transfers are tomorrow morning where I'll tearfully say goodbye to Elder Torres and meet my new District and get right to work!! It's the same size as my OLD district - 8 Missionaries - but they are all ELDERS!! They don't allow Sister Missionaries to SET FOOT in KingsBridge!! Too dangerous!! Oh! Don't worry Maaa, I'll be fine! We're the Missionaries!! (knock on wood) ;)

I'm gonna miss my Dear Hermanas!! :( But we have a long time left on our Missions (well Me and Passantino) so we're hoping to serve together again. Sister Child is still here in Olmstead and Sister Passantino got transferred to Inwoon - the very tip top of Manhattan!! ) And actually (urg!) I'll still be District Leader in KingsBridge too!! Ahh!! Double Duty! I'm full of anticipation and excitement and anxiety!!

I'm truly going to miss my companion Elder Torres- Mom I can't even tell you- I feel like he's my brother. I've learned more from him than anyone else on my mission thus far- and my admiration and respect for him is unmatched to any other Elder! He's coming to visit us - I've told him that he is always welcome in the Hellberg home! He's been such an incredible companion. We both have 15 months left in the Mission, so we're hoping to serve with each other again!!

I've been running around saying goodbye to the Members of the Ward, my recent converts - and just kind of coming to closure with my area! It's still my greenie-area and I feel very attached!! Hahaha So I'm a bit dramatic! What do ya do? I'm sure the KingsBridge Ward will have just as many blessings and miracles!! :) And Elder Duffin goes home TOMORROW!! Noooooo!!! AHH!! I'm going to miss my dear Pokemon Master! :(

I had kind of a strange event happen on Saturday - I woke up in the Morning... COVERED IN HIVES! The worst case of hives I have ever seen!! My eyes were swollen shut and I had BIG MASSIVE DARK RED SPLOTCHY RASHES on EVERY SINGLE PART OF MY BODY!! Literally from my SCALP down to my TOES! AGHHGHGH!! and the ITCHING! OOOOHHHH THE ITCHING!! My new BEST FRIEND is named Hydrocortisone Can-I-just-tell-you!!! SO we called the Mission Doctor - got me on some serious antihistamines (a.k.a Benadryl x 4) and.... just as mysteriously as they came....I woke up on Monday and they had completely disappeared! Strange, right?

A change in the wind says I ... I'm looking forward to these big upcoming changes - and I know that I'll find blessings and miracles wherever I go and whatever the Lord has in store for me! I love being a Missionary!

Well - gotta go home and PACK!!

The next time you hear from me I'll be in KB! Wish me luck!

LOVE YOU MY DEAR SWEET FAMILY!!! The Church is TRUE!!

B Safe (seriously), B happy, B attached!

Always,

Elder Brandon Hellberg

August 11

August 11, 2010

Hello home!!

Another week has come and flown- it amazes me how quickly time seems to move! It's almost unfair!! Because of some strange circumstances, this cycle has been cut short- to 4 weeks instead of the usual 6! I'm probably leaving this coming cycle- I've been here in my greenie area for over 6 months and I've heard from some fairly reliable sources that my time here in Olmstead has come to a close! :( I feel very mixed about leaving!! I have come to love so much the people here- the Members and my investigators and my recent converts- and the Missionaries too! I'm confident, though, that wherever the Lord sends me I will love and grow just as much as I have my dear Olmstead. I'm NOT sure, however, what the Primary is going to do without me! Hahahaha! Kidding...kidding... I just might need to teach some members how to play piano so the kids can SING! ;)

I have discovered the reason for the fire hydrants always being opened and blasting into the street all day long during the summer! It's for the Missionaries! Hooray! Seriously though- It gets SO hot and humid during the day! Luckily we can soak our arms and faces in the fire hydrants and that helps us stay a little cooler!

We had a great week, Elder Torres and I! One of our families we are teaching is just so incredible! Every time we go and see them they have loads of questions and are so excited to see us. They are from the Dominican Republic- I feel my love for the Dominican culture growing with every person from there that I meet. They are all so happy and friendly! Not to mention that apparently my Spanish is becoming more and more Dominican every day! Que lo que muchacho?

Let's see... highlights of the week...

- One of the baptismal dates that Elder Torres and I have was set on last Thursday for this coming Sunday! It was so funny when it happened- we are teaching a family and the 9 year old came up and said to us- "Guys, I'm going to church on Sunday. And I'm getting baptized, okay?" Hahaha they are all very excited!

- There's a new Target coming to New York City! And a bunch of the buses and trains are all decked out painted red and white decorated to celebrate it! Hooray!

- We have officially kicked off our new English teaching program for native Spanish speakers! It's called "Daily Dose!" Elder Torres and I ran around our area talking to everyone we saw and inviting them to come and learn English with us!

- Sister Passantino got locked out on her balcony in her apartment! Bahaha!!

- We had a mega-soccer/volleyball tournament last P-day!

- The District is having a contacting contest this week- the companionship with the most street contacts gets breakfast from the Sister Missionaries- unless THEY win- then all the Elders have to make THEM breakfast!

I feel my faith growing with each passing day. I love the Gospel- and love this opportunity to share it with others! I feel humbled and grateful for all the miracles and blessings that I am receiving out here and the ones my family is receiving at home! You guys! I just love you! Please know how much I love you!! Sending my prayers your way!

B safe! B Happy! B Dominican?

Always,

Elder Hellberg

August 5

Subject: August 5!

Helloooo!

How are you all this week! I'm doing so good!

Can you believe I just hit my 8 month mark?! I'm 1/3 done! CRAZY!! It really doesn't feel like 8 months ... Maybe 2 or 3. Some DAYS feel like forever but overall everything is going SO fast! And I've been right here for 6 months in the Bronx- can you believe that!? I can't! Apparently, in the Missionary World, I've been officially "Bronxed!" It's strange, everything in New York moves very fast, but I've kinda been integrated into the lifestyle- I love running around a city that never sleeps!

We had SO many meetings this week! Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday all the District and Zone Leaders all went up to Scarsdale for meetings- at 8 in the morning until 5 at night! The meetings were so great though! Missions throughout the world are receiving new instruction and things are changing- and everything is so exciting! Plus I love riding up to Scarsdale on Metro North- it reminds me so much of those high speed trains my family rode on in Europe! I feel like we are going on Vacation every time we ride it!

Speaking of vacation, I loved the pictures you sent! My dear sweet family :-) It gives me such peace to picture you guys all having fun up there together!

Oh dear :) I do miss your faces!

We had a great Zone-Wide Blitz this week- we went up to the Sister's Area and had a CONTACTING EXTRAVAGANZA-ZA-ZA-za-za-za!! It was so fun- we made it a contest and got points for specific types of people we contacted (I.e.- 15 pts- someone with headphones in, 20 pts- someone on a bike, 10 pts- grandma with her grandson)... It was great! Then afterwards, we all went to BurgerKing / Popeye's chicken and I got Food Poisoning! Hooray! Ahem.

Elder Torres and I have the best time tracting doors. We always have to inconspicuously sneak our way into the Apartment Complexes, because they all have some type of security- and we just knock doors and share our message- while laughing and loving what we do. We find all sorts of interesting people- I'm pretty sure we met Gollum from Lord of the Rings the other day...

I got the package - thanks for having Car send it off quickly! My Sweet Carlie :) she's just awesome.

Today for P-day we are going to the church to play soccer, make face masks, share pictures and stories... Just very low key. Mom can you send me some kind of tie-die kit when you're home? Thanks!

Last Saturday, we had to clean out our old apartment- we had already moved out, but we had to go back and DEEP clean and give the keys back to the Super. It. Was. Disgusting. Hahaha SO unsanitary. Here's a little excerpt from Sister Passantino's email home...

"It has been a wonderful week full of spiritual experiences. I have loved it! Ok, first off, this last week we had to help the elders clean their old apartment that they moved out of. SICK! It was seriously the grossest thing. I cleaned like 500 dead cockroaches and a million pounds of rat poo. (Ok maybe I over exaggerated a bit) I can not believe they lived there for so long. I'm pretty sure Sis. Child and I were on the verge of throwing up the whole time. Ha ha, we are such girls. But I am glad that is over with. The apartments here in New York are.... welll, hmmmm.... pretty nasty. But the ones we live in are nice so I'm not even mad about having to clean :-)"

We had a really Spiritual activity at the Church on Friday- the Tree of Life Activity. Many people from the Ward and quite a few that aren't members came and participated! They were blindfolded and had to follow a rope (Iron Rod) around the church building while being persuaded and tempted by good and evil forces and influences (The missionaries haha). I was at the grand piano playing music in what symbolized the Tree of Life, or the Celestial kingdom. It was so touching to see people's reactions as they removed their blindfolds and were greeted by Bishop and walked up to the Tree of Life- all illuminated by white lights and conveniently-placed flashlights! There was just a good feeling of love and peace there in the Chapel.

I must run now! I Love you all very much! I love this Gospel- It's the greatest and most important thing in my life. I love being a Missionary and love and appreciate your support.

CHURCH IS TRUE!!

B happy, B strange, B Sanitary!

All my Love,

Elder Brandon Hellberg

July 28

Elder B's letter home July 28, 2010

Subject: Last week in JULY!

DEAR Home!! FIRST off, let me apologize for not being able to write home a big letter last week! The Library didn't have working laptops, and it was packed- so my companion and I had to share a computer! Didn't have enough time to do anything! :( BUT all is well, I'm here bright and early on Wednesday morning and it's nearly empty- minus the Olmstead Zone (12 missionaries) who are all rapidly typing to their families as well! :)

Let's see... what to report...

Well, first off, I'd like to officially announce that because of my new found ability to speak Spanish... my ENGLISH skills have improved! Hooray!! I'm not sure exactly HOW it happened, but somehow a few missionaries and I were discussing diction and articulation (cool topics, huh?) and mine came up and they all agreed that I speak very clearly and at a good moderate speaking pace in English. WHAT!?! I was shocked!! I had a flood of memories of family and friends all telling me to "slow down" and "pronounce" my words... Missions really do work Miracles!! I can speak in my native tongue! Hooray!

Dad, I did get your package! WIth the flash drive! I LOVED IT! I laughed and cried and loved it! Aww :) Mom, I'm so glad you, Sam and Con had fun in Nauvoo! I got a letter from Pres. CHamberlain yesterday about how dad stayed home and painted the garages and stuff- and how he was so excited for you two that you went to Israel! Busy summer! Wow! I miss the Hellberg Hectic travel plans :) I'm definitely going to raise my family on-the-go! hahah!

CAN YOU BELIEVE it's been 8 months!? that seems like so long but it feels like so short!!

Funny experience on Friday... Elder Torres and I went tracting in a big apartment complex and had tracted a couple floor without much success. We knocked on this man's door and he answered and looked surprised and asked us who we were. I explained who we were and about our message. I asked him his name and he said "I'm Aguedo from the Dominican Republic!" Just then we hear from somewhere inside his apartment this screechy yelling woman's voice- "AGUEDO! What are you doing!" He ignored the yelling and kept talking to us. About 30 seconds later, the yelling comes again "AGUEDO! Who are you talking to!?" He ignored the yelling again. He told us his situation and that he would love for us to come back and teach him about our message. We asked him for his phone number and he gave it to us, when the yelling came again; "AGUEDO, who are you giving your number to!?" Finally he turned around and yelled back into the Apartment "Can't you see I'm talking to the Men of God, Woman!?!" Hahaha it was so funny!

WE MOVED! Hooray!! We are in these SUPER nice white, clean, rat-free apartments... with BALCONIES!! Hooray! We love them! We celebrated the move by making a Shepard's Pie- and burnt it and set off all our brand new fire detectors! Hooray!!

So.. something strange happened the other day, but it's going to be a little hard to explain over e-mail.... SO we have quite a few really awesome investigators right now, all pretty different and in different parts of our area. We'll break them up into families A, B, and C. Family A and B are Dominican and family C is Honduran/Puerto Rican. We've been teaching Families A and B for quite some time and Family C is fairly recent, 2 or 3 weeks. We went over to Visit Family A on Monday, but when we knocked, someone from Family B answered the door. We were confused, but got invited into the apartment so we went inside where we met family A and B- turns out they are linked through several family marriages. We had just started chatting with them when the doorbell rang and it's none other than Family C! Turns out THEY are related to family A directly and Family B through marriage on both sides! None of the families knew we were teaching the other families- and there were many exchanges of "They are teaching you guys too?", "Wow you know these guys?" It was all very strange but very exciting- we're all going to have a big giant tri-family lesson very soon!! Hooray!

Elder Torres and I are doing great! We are best friends and always laugh and have fun even when it's 100 degrees with 100% humidity and we're stinky and sweaty and tracting doors. Elder Torres is such a "Pick-me-Up" kinda guy, there's never a day to dull or discouraging that we can't laugh about and make better. :)

**OH AND SHOUTOUT TO MY AUNT DEBBIE FOR BEING A HERO!!** GOOOOO DEBBIE!!***

Oh computer just about to kick me off!! I love you soooo uber muchly! Please pray for me! And a couple we are teaching named Jensy and Ydarmis! (jen-see and Ee-dar-mees) from DR! They are amazing and need prayers!

I love you guys! I love the Gospel and the amazing opportunity I have to be a Missionary! I love the Savior and all He has done for us. I feel privileged to represent him in New York!

Church is TRUE!

B Happy, B Safe, B Articulating!

Love Always,

Elder Brandon Hellberg

July 21

July 21, 2010

It’s B!!

WE MOVED! YESTERDAY! Hahaha, Finally, right?! It's so nice - we are in some NEW apartments right down the road from where we were. They are SO nice! NO rats! NO bugs! NO smells nor mold nor leaky windows and toliets and sinks! Hardwood floors and white white walls and up-to-date everything! ;-D

We went to the Manhattan Temple last week! It makes me miss it - only being able to go once every three months! I'm with Elder Torres another cycle! Hooray! I'm still district leader. And we pretty much stayed exactly the same for this cycle, except we gota new Elder from the MTC being trained by Elder Duffin and Elder Thoman: a Tri-Panionship!

I can't believe it's almost already August! Almost 8 months Pa! That's almost 1/3!

I'm so sorry I didn't get to write a big long letter home this week... library is dumb and we timed it wrong!

I'm really sorry I don't have much time today... The library is packed!! I have to go now, but please know how much I love each one of you! I'm missing you and praying for you all and loving you always!!

Please be safe and do good things and know that I love you!

Always,

B!