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!! :)