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