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!