Happy Halloween! (October 27, 2010)

DEAR home!!

Hello! It's Elder B! It's a cold and rainy morning here- and there's Halloween Spirit in the air! Apt Buildings and stores and cars are all decked out with Scare-Gear ready for Oct 31! Haha We won't get to see anything... we have to be in the Apartment and 6:00 sharp! (safety!) BUT Elder Peine and I are going to bake muffins and have a mini-Halloween party with the 4 of us in our Apt! Yes!

This week was a great week! We got SO much done and saw so many great things! We had a great blitz in one of the areas in lower Kingsbridge, and Elder Peine and I had 9 investigators attend church this past Sunday! Such a blessing! Also, I got to do a Musical Number for Sacrament Meeting- I sang and played the piano- "I'll go where you want me to go" and "Nearer my God to Thee" in Spanish! My sweet companion Elder Peine held the Mic for me as I awkwardly sang into it while playing! Hahah! ;)

WE MOVED! Our new apartment is BIG AND WHITE AND CLEAN!! HOORAY!! It took ALL day Monday- and I (still) feel like JELL-O from all the moving of furniture and big boxes... but it's DONE! The most draining part was hauling everything down the 4 flights of stairs in the old apt to pack them into the big van! AH! NOT to mention that I inherited my dear Mother's habit of falling... and gracefully crashed down the stairs with a bunk bed frame. :) Sore... not broken! :) We're still unpacking a few things- and we are taking all of today to put up new curtains and install shelves and drawers and such!

Maaa, would it be possible to get a new suit from Mr Mac without being measured...? Maybe they still have the old dimensions? haha i dunno. eh :) My suits are SO wearing through!! It's funny! The Butt of the Pants is SHINY from all the sitting and walking- and the belt loops are wearing down to their last THREAD! AHH!! I'm not exactly sure what to do about it... I can try and manually fix the belt loops... but the shinybutt I might have to deal with!

We had a miracle new investigator this week! His name is Nelson! He is amazing! One of the Members in the Ward- she's incredible, a true Member-Missionary- named Alma (ironic, right?) calls us the beginning of last week and says "Elders, I have a friend who I have been talking to about the Gospel and he's been to church a few times, and he wants to be taught by you. Today. At 5:00 Pm. We'll see you at the Chapel!" She introduced us to him and we talked to him- and he just whole-heartedly expressed his desire to learn and be baptized. We have visited with him several times since and he has a baptismal date for next weekend! He is so excited- and we are too!

I feel so blessed to be a Missionary for the Lord at this time. It never ceases to amaze me- the level of commitment and dedication of the Saints here in New York. Every day we meet new people who love the Lord and are ready to listen and come to church. The Members here are astounding- they have very profound and personal testimonies and are eager and available to serve right alongside the Missionary efforts here- we make a powerful team. I Love this opportunity- am trying my best to live every moment of my Mission as a Missionary.

THE CHURCH IS TRUE!

B strong! B happy! B stable in stairwells!

All My Love,

Elder Brandon Hellberg

October 20th!

October 20, 2010

HELLO MY DEAR FAMILY!

It's B!

It's a wonderful OCTOBER afternoon - and I am exhausted from a good hard day of PLAYING in Manhattan!!

Today several of our District and others from around the Mission went to the Manhattan Temple - I just LOVE the feeling inside that place - It's wonderful. There were about 6 or 7 Missionaries from the New Jersey Mission there, with the New Jersey Mission President - they were attending the Temple one last time before being released in a few days! They were glowing with excitement, but crying at the thought of not being Missionaries anymore! We got to talk to a few of them - they are just so grateful for all the experiences they had here in the field - and feel mixed emotions! I can't imagine how they feel!

Last Friday we had our famed "Noche de Naciones" in the Kingsbridge Chapel- it was SO fun! A GRAND production of fiestas and food and dances performed by the different Spanish Cultures in the ward. The Missionaries represented the U.S. - we did a quick throw together of obnoxious Basketball playing and tackling a surprised golfer... by far the most uninteresting of the productions! There were very talented members of the ward that performed many of their traditional dances from their native countries - so fun! There were SO many people there - not to mention the FOOD- it was ridiculous- mobs of ladies each with a different plate of food would attack each Missionary to try their special native food! I have SERIOUSLY never been more full. Thanksgiving? Nada.

Last Sunday we had the Primary Program! I got a letter from my Mom about the primary program back in my home ward in NSL - I believe all Primary programs, all over the world, regardless of area and culture - are exactly the same; cute and crazy. You know what I'm talking about - kids yelling and running around and playing the organ and screaming - yet it's so touching to see the little kids sing songs about their Savior. Kudos to Primary leaders and teachers everywhere! I worked closely with the Primary back in Olmstead and here in KB - I'm the pianist. :) Haha I have a special place in my heart for the everpresent personality of primary.

WE'RE MOVING on MONDAY! HOORAY! NEW apartment, ELEVATOR (our current one is on the 5th floor, NO elevator) and the ceilings and walls look sound and clean! Yay!

Transfers were so fun! Seeing all the new Missionaries reminds me vividly of when I walked into the Mission, blazey-eyed and not knowing what to expect. All the new Elders look so good! It seems like each new batch that comes out is better! One of the Greenie's lives in our apartment- Elder Ross- he's great! I love seeing the new Missionaries still on FIRE from the Greenhouse MTC!

Miguel and his family are doing so WELL! They have come to church every week, have introduced a few of their neighbors to us and even brought some to church with them! They are such a blessing. Their desire to be baptized is as strong as ever- and we are planning on it very soon!

A few days ago Elder Peine and I were studying when we heard a SNAP from the Kitchen... Elder McDaniel went and investigated- and there were TWO rats – dead - on the SAME snap trap! Bahaha We have a hilarious picture of Elder McDaniel proudly holding up the trap with the rats sticking straight out either side (rigor mortis... morbid...)! Bahah! The trap tells the sad tale of the two little rats happily having lunch and one gets greedy and steps on the release lever... oops- too late for the BOTH of them!!

I'm so EXCITED for CHRISTMAS!! then NEXT CHRISTMAS I'll be HOME! And we'll all line up and have a NORMAL Christmas! ... With Kevin! bahahaha!

I must go! Time is out and we have to run home and get our stuff for Correlation tonight at the Chapel! I love you all! Next week will be a better e-mail, promise! ;) Thank you all so much for all you do. Keep being amazing!

The Church is TRUE!

B happy, B strong, B SPANISH!

Always and forever,

Elder Brandon Hellberg

"Elder B!"

October 13, 2010

Ahem!

GOOD Morning- another wonderfully crispy chilled morning here in the Bronx! AND it looks like my adventure here in the City of the Yankees still has some life left in it- transfer calls came- and Elder Peine and I are still together for another (at least, fingers crossed) cycle! WAHOO! We are one of the only (of 2) companionships in the Zone that didn't get changed! YES! Also... I've been released as District Leader... and got assigned to be Zone Leader here in Kingsbridge- haha I'm starting to think my destiny as a Missionary lies here in the Bronx. I've literally spent over 1/3 of my Mission here! I DO love it though. I've never really considered myself to be a "Big City" kind of person... but Fordham College looks promising.... ;)

Updates on Miguel and family! Everything is going SO well with them. They have Baptismal Dates for the 31st of October! WHICH, ironically, is not only as you know Halloween, but ALSO- EXACTLY 12 years to the day from my OWN Baptism on Oct 31, 1998! I still remember that day! It was Kimmee Wade and myself being baptized, I do recall! And we still went trick-or-treating! Miguel and his family are very excited- and we are just as excited with them. They have loved church and have been embraced by the ward- they seem so comfortable there, and Miguel says it feels so right. Their daughter Lupe was a little scared of Primary.. (okay came running out screaming and ended up being with her parents for the rest...) but Miguel says that she did the same thing with school and will be alright in a few times of getting used to it! :)

New Exciting things happening soon!!

--The Mission is getting NEW AND UPDATED CELL PHONES! HOORAY!! TECHNOLOGY HERE WE COME!

--Elder Peine and I have many new people coming to church- it's wonderful being part of this great Work.

--We're moving apartments... AGAIN! Bahah- remember the episode in the Olmstead Apt? Yeah, well, my way with words you know... uhh.. hehe.. ANYWAY yes we are moving again- and Elder Peine are looking for apartments in Little Italy and the lower section of our area! I never knew how hard it would be- let alone HOW EXPENSIVE apartments are in NY. RIDICULOUS!

--The "Noche De Naciones" is this coming FRIDAY! AH! We are all so excited. It's apparently the biggest fiesta the Kingsbridge Ward puts on- even bigger than Christmas. The Missionaries are going to represent America.... we might to some dance thing or play baseball or sing the Anthem!! O say can you see...?

--Metrocard fares are going UP! The price of a monthly unlimited metrocard is 89$- but apparently the MTA is in the hole and is bumpin' the prices up to 104$ a month! Ouch! I'm betting that several companionships in the city (including my own) have a possibility of losing full metro so as to keep costs from being astronomical!! Eh, I could probably use the exercise anyway...

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY WISHES!! I was OVERWHELMED with letters and cards for my Birthday- thank you all so much. I couldn't have asked for a better Birthday. It means so much to me!! Please understand if I take some (a lot of) time getting back to some of you... I only have P-days to respond to letters- and I'm not very keen on re-spawning my battle scars (hand callouses) from AP English Senior year!! Please know how much I truly appreciate it and love you all! :)

Christmas is in the AIR! I love it! Already we're playing Christmas music and the lights are starting to come out- sales are starting and it the smell of cinnamon is ever present! (I think it's the hundreds of Vendors selling churros and applepie empenadas on the street... but any who...) I LOVE IT! Keep the Spirit of Christmas alive and go belt a Christmas Song on a public bus or something in my Honor!! Hooray!

B safe! B strong! B SINGING!

All my Love

Elder Brandon David Hellberg

PS-Speaking of my own name, I saw a license plate the other day... BDH 019... COINCIDENCE!? I think NOT!! :)

Oct 6 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS BEAN!

HELLLOOO!!

Good morning from Fordham in the Bronx!

It's a wonderfully chilly October Morning, and we just got back from shopping at target!

This week has been going so well!

First things first!

CONFERENCE!

AHHH!! MANNA FROM HEAVEN! I LOVED it. It's SUCH a different experience as a Missionary. We hurry and sit all our investigators in the Spanish side, then run over to the English broadcast in the other rooms filled with ward members and investigators to listen to the Prophet and the other church Leaders. It's SUCH a CHARGE! Haha especially considering that the last Conference before I left for the Mission I was practically unconscious on pain killers, waiting to have Dr. Edwards surgically put my shoulder back together while Mom and Carlie took turns playing nurse and feeding me!! Baha! Really though. I took more notes and wrote more personal feelings and thoughts down this past Conference weekend than all the other conferences in my life COMBINED.

This is part of the letter I sent home to my family last week:

"Last week, we went to visit one of our investigators- Miguel. He is a good man. He has a loving wife, Magdelena, and a 3 yr old girl with her named Guadalupe, Lupe for short. They are a sweet and humble Mexican family- we found them through the church headquarters media system. We taught them the restoration and the Plan of Salvation as a family- and had a scheduled appointment with them on Saturday- we were going to teach about the Gospel and the Prophets- especially with Conference coming up. We knocked on their door- and Miguel answered. He was babbling nonsense and smelled badly of alcohol-and had a thick white powder under his nose. He invited us in and we found with him 2 other men, totally and completely drunk- with over 20 empty bottles of beer on the table- and lines of cocaine and blunts of weed. It was heartbreaking. He sat on the floor and cried as we sat with him. He just cried- for a good 10 minutes just cried, clutching the paperback copy of the Book of Mormon we gave to him. In the sobs he was telling us he wanted to change- that he knew his little girl needed him. It was one of the most sad and pathetic things I've ever witnessed. After about a half an hour, we got up to leave- he was far too intoxicated to understand us, and I was sure he wouldn't remember what had happened when he came to. Moments later, on our way out we ran into Magdelena and Lupe- they were coming home from a long day selling fruit in the street and shopping for groceries. We helped her carry up her carts the 4 flights of stairs- when Miguel came out of the apartment again. Magdelena saw him- and her eyes welled up with tears. It was so heartbreaking and discouraging. Miguel just sat back down and cried. We talked with them a little, but left very downhearted and discouraged. Elder Peine and I are determined to do everything we can to help this sweet family. We have faith. We visited Miguel yesterday at his work- and talked to him for about half an hour. He seems genuine about changing- he was very excited when we showed up to see him. When he is not drunk or under the effects of drugs, he is most definitely the loving man we know and have been teaching...."

----I feel so blessed this week to report that MANY good things are happening with this family right now. We returned to visit Miguel at his work and he expressed a sincere desire to change. He told us of his love for God and his family. We have had several return visits, and it's such a testimony to me to LITERALLY see him changing. He is cleaner, he is happier, and there is warmth in his house. Elder Peine and I went and picked him up on Saturday night and took him to the Priesthood session of Conference- he loved it. He was so amazed that we have a Prophet on the Earth today! He energetically told us afterwards that he was so excited to bring his wife and daughter back the next morning for the Sunday morning session. Sure enough, we walked into the chapel and there was Miguel and his family seated up close to the big projector screen- early - and eagerly waiting for Conference to start. They loved it. After conference, we took them over to a member's house, the Sanchez Family- and just introduced them and discussed conference. I can't do the situation justice with words on my e-mail. We went back and visited them yesterday- Miguel came home for a lunch break from work- and brought a few friends from work to meet and visit with us. We had a very touching lesson with them about the importance of family- we read and discussed The Family: A proclamation to the World. After, I invited Miguel to pray for us. It was so touching as he genuinely addressed Heavenly Father and prayed- simply and from his heart. They both want to participate in the Ward Activity coming up, the "Noche de Naciones"- Nation Night- where all the different cultures present their native country and bring food and dance and pictures! Also, they are progressing towards baptism and love coming to Church. I love this family. They are such a blessing and continue to see the blessings of the Restored Gospel.

Speaking of Noche de Naciones... the Missionaries here are going to represent the US! We can't decide if we're going to dance to THRILLER in spirit of Halloween or lip sing to the backstreet boys.... o.O

A few days ago, Elder Knuth and I went on a split in my area- and we saw some VERY strange things... (2 of which I truly feel should NOT be emailed home...) anyway... First off, we encountered the LEGENDARY BIRDMAN in Kingsbridge Sub station. It was hilarious. This crazed looking person with feathers all over him- a truly impressive getup.. making the MOST legit falcon screams I've ever heard a human produce. I challenged him with my Pterodactyl screech..(Kudos Garbrielle Machiavelle, Carlie, and Connor..)... and I was shamefully defeated by an amazing Eagle sound and soaring around the station. .... True story.

SECOND, we saw 2 undercover cops take down a group of 10 guys playing some street gambling game. It was so intense. We were across the street when these guys pounced and yelled "UP AGAINST the WALL!" We took shelter in a nearby members house and watched from the window- a big black police van came and took them all away! Ah!Thirdly was more of an epic battle to catch a bus. We had just left from Kingsbridge Chapel and were headed to the Bx9 bus stop, when we saw it leave the stop we were heading to. I yelled "KNUTH! RUN!" We took off down the road as fast as we could- and about half way people around us saw us trying to catch it- it was hilarious- there was a big group of younger New Yorkers screaming at us "GO! GO SERVANTS OF THE LORD! YOU CATCH THAT BUS!! GO!" and others around were yelling "RUN!! CATCH THAT BUS!" We saw a few people on the bus cheering us on as we ran top speed right next to the bus- and finally when we made it to the next stop on time, the group that had been cheering us on erupted into applause and cheering about a half a block away- "YES! YOU DID IT! HALLELUJAH! PRAISE!!" It was so hilarious! Even A few people on the bus clapped for us!

Thank you all so much for all you do. I truly love this Gospel. It STILL amazes me that I have the trust of the Savior to wear His Name over my heart each day- and teach and love and go about doing Good for Him. I am so grateful for all the examples in my life that have led me to this point. Thank you! Especially to all those Primary and Sunday School teachers- for being so patient! Haha I was a crazy child growing up... Truthfully I thank you. I love you all and look forward to thanking you in person!

B Strong! B Smart! B screeching like a falcon!

The Church is TRUE!

Always and Forever!
Elder Hellberg

September 29, 2010

Hello my dear sweet family! It's B!

I am FULL of joy and gratitude for so many things. I'm OFFICIALLY 20 years old. My Birthday was GREAT! From all over the Mission Elders and Sisters (and President and other senior couples) called and sang to me and wished me happy birthday! PLUS my dear companion got up EARLY yesterday and decorated the entire apartment for me and woke me up with party horns and dancing and HAPPY BIRTHDAY shouts! It was great! :) Then I opened my wonderful packages from the FAM and the one from Sammi and Kev and the one from my dear Carolyn! What a wonderful morning! I loved it!

PLUS- I am THRILLED about SAMMI AND KEVIN being ENGAGED!!!! AHHHH!!! So wonderful! I'll be there in SPIRIT!! :D PLUS, Mom and Carlie can dance around with my cardboard Cut-Out!! :)

Yesterday, on my birthday, we had a VERY powerful lesson with a lady that left the church years ago. I can't really explain very well what happened. She expressed to us several doubts she was having about the church- and all her reasons for losing faith. I literally felt power that was not my own testifying to her of the Truth of the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Spirit was SO powerful in that room. She tearfully promised to make the changes necessary to realign her actions with her beliefs, even though her beliefs were dwindling. She committed to come to church this sunday for Conference- and she said she wants to have her children baptized.

SPEAKING of CONFERENCE!! I AM SO EXCITED! HOORAY! I caught a few minutes of the RS broadcast in the Chapel- and I SHOOK with energy and excitement like a hyper little kid in anticipation for CONFERENCE! I think all 4 of you should sit down together for at least one of the sessions and watch it together- and know that I am WATCHING THE EXACT SAME THING at the EXACT SAME TIME!! Coincidence!? I think NOT!!

I love you, my dear family. You are my support and my reason for being out here sharing the Gospel. I can't express sufficiently (especially through E-mail) my love and gratitude for each one of you. I look forward to the day I can look you in the eyes and tell you all this in person! (14 months and counting!) Please pray for me- pray for those I teach and those that we meet! This City needs all the prayers it can get! I love it here. I love being a Missionary. I love the Savior. I love my FAMILY! I love my LIFE! What a blessing! Please keep each other safe- I've learned out here that Family truly is the most precious gift we have. Don't take it for granted! I love you all, and again, thank you for all you do and are.

Always and Forever,

B