DEcember 29, 2010

Day 14

Base Camp 3 - 25,000 feet. Nightfall.

Elder Mitchell and I trudge along at high altitude, low on oxygen, as the wind carves dramatic riffs into the brilliant white ledges of snow and ice, now a shadowy gray under the dim moonlight. We ran out of food late last night, and it will be hours before the rest of the party reaches us. Our equipment is almost as tired as we are, the once metallic glare of our spiked boots and pickaxes now a dull matte as they slowly, but surely, lose their grip. Elder Mitchell's temperature has dropped below 91 degrees, and I am beginning to worry. We are near out of propane and we don't have sufficient supplies to last us much longer... Our fate is very uncertain as we continue our battle with this cruel mountain.....

BLIZZARD!

Or in Spanish, as they say, "NEVADA!" (Kind of counter-intuitive, huh?)

Seriously. Remember the movie "Day After Tomorrow?" Yes. I am in the middle of that movie. Heading home at night on Sunday night was my most intense encounter with a blizzard- despite spending the first 19 years of my life in the mountains of Utah. Every gust of wind cuts through every layer of clothing you're wearing and small chunks of snow and ice soar through the air at high speeds, threatening your eyes and face. We stopped several times to push cars out of the middle of intersections- only to travel a few more feet and get caught again. Our futile attempts nearly lost us our fingers. Signs and garbage sailed through the air with the snow. Small whirlwinds formed and picked up more snow. Walking was counterproductive- you had to RUN at the wind to make progress against it's gale forces; visibility, was next to zero. The aftermath was almost as impressive as the storm itself. Cars were COMPLETELY covered in snow; only the few top inches of their radio antennas protruding from the top layer of snow could be seen. For hours we dug ourselves our of our OWN apartment with the measly shovels we found on our patio the night before. The entire transportation system of the city was shut down- and for good reason. On our trek to the church building later that night we saw 7 MTA buses and HUNDREDS of cars stranded and abandoned and on major roads and intersections. Oops sorry getting into dramatic story-telling mode again. It's all true! But no worries, we're all safe! The storm has passed and cleanup has begun!

Right now, both Elder Mendez (apartmentmate) and I are SICK. We both have fevers and are coughing and have scratchy throats and we take turns "Ralphing" into the toilet. (Nicer word for throwing-up...?....urg...) That started on Monday morning... luckily we are both starting to feel better! :)

On a happier note! CHRISTMAS was WONDERFUL! All the Missionaries went up to the Chapel in Scarsdale for a big Christmas Morning Brunch and musical program! All the zones sang and we had scripture readings and afterwards, we all enjoyed a wonderful meal with a (hilarious) slide show of pictures from around the Mission in the past year! Hard to believe I was on my Mission one year ago! Man!

Maria was Baptized on Thursday and Confirmed on Sunday! I had the priviledge to perform the baptism- it was such a special day for everyone. Maria plans on getting her temple recommend as soon as possible- and the next P-day, we plan on heading down to Manahttan to do Baptisms for the Dead!

WEDDING BELLS ARE RINGING!!! RIGHT THIS VERY MOMENT my dear sister Sammi is getting MARRIED for time and all Eternity in the beautiful Bountiful Temple!! Congratulations Sammi and Kevin! Please know I am right there with you in SPIRIT!

The New Year is HERE! I have many new-years-resolutions!! I have colored streamers! I have pots and pans! I have!....to be in the apartment at 6:00 pm on the 31st... BUT THAT'S OKAY we have a PATIO and we can celebrate!....until 10:30 pm which is LIGHTS OUT HOORAY!!! Hmm.. Well I hope all of you break one of those big party popper things and scream at midnight for me!! :D

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

The Church is True in 2011 TOO!!

B safe! B warm! B prepared with iceaxes and propane!

Always,

Elder Hellberg

December 22

Sing NOEL!! CHRISTMAS IS HERE!!!

HOORAY! It's the most wonderful time of the year here in NYC! People are smiling and music is playing and lights are making the City just GLOW! I still can't believe it's been a YEAR since LAST Christmas. This time last year, Elder Linford and I were in the MTC together- both of our first Christmases away from home! So strange to think that already a year has flown by.

Hooray! Tomorrow evening, a wonderful lady we are teaching- will be Baptized at the Kingsbridge Chapel. Her name is Maria- she's amazing. She has such a foreknowledge of the Bible and its teachings. She is very excited to be baptized- her little girl (2) and infant son were presented and blessed a few Sundays ago- and they are such a wonderful example to the ward.

Baby it's cold outside, but people sure are being so much warmer! Elder Mitchell and I have been working hard and talking to everyone! We have found several new families that we are teaching- mostly from Mexico!

Last night, the stars were shining brightly- but the moon was NOT! Too bad we were sleeping.. we heard from a bunch of people that the Lunar Eclipse was pretty cool!

We are all going up to Scarsdale for a wonderful Christmas morning Lunch/Dinner party! The whole Mission! I'm so excited to see a bunch of old friends and spent time with the other Missionaries. We have a big slide show of funny photos from throughout the year to watch- and each Zone has prepared a special musical number!

From my planner.........

Bus used most frequently this week: Bx9

Number of times I used the word "Wonderful" in this letter: 6

Number of points I received this week in "BronxTrash Soccer": 13

Number of Carols I've sung on buses and trains this week: 49

Christmas lights on our tree in our apartment: 350!

Money spent on postage to and from our apartment: You don't want to know.

Iced Hot Chocolate w/ face caramel and cinnamon made this week: 5

Allusions to Christmas Songs in this letter: 8

I'm wishing you all a Feliz Navidad! I hope it's wonderful and white and cozy!

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Elder Hellberg

December 15

HELLO!

CAN YOU believe that CHRISTMAS is in 10 DAYS! AHHH!! I sure can't!

I absolutely love it! The Spirit of Christmas is in the AIR! People are dressed in festive greens and reds and the lights are all being set up- there are big Christmas Tree Stands on every other street selling hundreds of Christmas trees- and the Music of the Season is playing everywhere! I went all crazy and decked out our apartment with Decorations sent to me by my dear Mama- and drew Christmas pictures on all the windows with my window markers! Hehe!

Nelson was Confirmed this last Sunday! It was such a special Sunday for all of us. The Spirit was so strong- he had a lot of friends there to support him- and his friend Alma (like the Prophet... but in Mexican Woman form!) held a big feast for him at her house after church. It's so touching to see such love and integration with ward members and new converts. It can be such a change in people's lives once they choose to accept the Gospel- and a warm and welcoming Ward can make a huge difference in their first precious experiences with the Church.

We went down to Harlem today for P-day and I bought a warm coat for winter! All the Members were getting after me for not having a big hefty winter layer. "Elder! That doesn’t keep you warm! You need a bigger coat!"

SOOOO... yesterday (Dec 14) Elder Mitchell and I were walking down Anthony Avenue, and the FREEZING New York wind was slicing our faces- and we had a few appointments fall through- so to keep spirits high I started to sing "Walking in a Winter Wonderland." Within minutes I was singing at the top of my lungs- pulling the patented C.M.Bean "voice pop and slide"... when this gangster-looking guy all decked out in bling came up from behind me and said "Yo son, you got sick vocals!"... I was kinda shocked and embarrassed but he shook my hand and introduced himself as DJ Madness- and said "gimme yo number, I'ma producer, and I'ma hook you up." Haha I explained that I'm a Missionary and couldn't be ‘hooked up' but he gave me his card and number and said for me to call him in a year when I’m done with my Mission... SO just in case I decide BYU isn't for me, I guess I'll come back to the Bronx!!! Hahahaha!

I wish you all a wonderful week!

The Church is TRUE!

B safe B strong B WARM!

All my Love

Elder Brandon Hellberg

MERRY ALMOST CHRISTMAS!

December 8th

DEAR HOME!!

GOOD MORNING from the Bronx!

We had a great Multi-Zone Conference down in Manhattan yesterday at the Temple!

So... funny story.

Last week, we were trying to empty the baptismal font.... (I bet some of you can see where this is going...)

And the design on these fonts, man, needs to be re-done in future chapels (somebody take note)... The plug for the drain is right in the middle of the font, so when it's full, you actually have to climb down in to pull up the plug. Well, I being VERY clever, balanced a chair with another chair so I could reach down and grab the silver chain attached to the plug with a long bent-out metal hanger. (Now I'm sure you see where this is going...) I, AGAIN being VERY intelligent, was, OF COURSE, still dressed in my church slacks, WITH my suit coat on, WITH my wallet, planner, and camera. Epic fail. The chairs collapsed, and I gracefully pulled a classic "Alma Sr." and baptized myself in the font. LUCKILY everything was salvaged- all except my pride... especially when I had to run around the gym for 45 minutes to dry off my soaking slacks, and then walk for 15 minutes back to apartment in 30 degree weather with no socks on. :)

We truly are being blessed right now with people to teach. The whole Zone is doing great. We've committed ourselves to some really high goals- and we received some incredible promises from President Smith- and we are all excited and working hard to meet them! We are working right now with some incredible people. Angie, a sister of one of the Members has an incredible story of how she got to be in the Bronx- and how she feels like God is helping her right now through this time in her life. Last Sunday, we presented and blessed her brand new baby and 2 yr old girl in Sacrament Meeting. It was so sweet, and Angie said she loved it. She has expressed her desire to be baptized. We are also working with a friend of Maria and Maggie- she's 18 and she's incredible. She has a strong testimony and we love being able to visit with her and see her progress in the Gospel. She easily understands everything we tell her and has strong relationships with a few members already and, most importantly, with Heavenly Father.

Let's see... what else is coming up...

Interviews with President are tomorrow! We realized that they only happen every OTHER cycle now instead of cyclically, so I only have 4 left! Crazy!

All the Missionaries in the whole Mission are going up to the mission home for Christmas for a wonderful Christmas Luncheon! Then, we all get to ride Metro North back into the City and call our families! Yay!

The Kingsbridge Ward Christmas Party is on the 17th!

I am so excited for Christmas. I LOVED the First Presidency Devotional- all the Missionaries got to watch it at the Chapel. Afterwards, we went home and read in St Luke- I have truly come to appreciate and love those precious versus. Yesterday, we went over to Maria's house and shared them and a Christmas message with her in her doorway. The Spirit was so strong- you cannot help but be filled with Christmas Spirit when you get to Verse 11- "For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."... We left her house, and looked through the Window and saw their beautiful Tree, all decorated for the season. It warms my heart! PLUS, many people do the cool Christmas-light-choreographed-to-music thing on their apartments and houses! It looks so neat to see the City GLOW with Christmas!

I love you all so much. Thank you for all being so incredibly supportive. I hope your coming week is full of Hot Chocolate and playing in the snow and singing Christmas songs!!

The Church is TRUE!

B safe! B happy! B full of CHRISTMAS MAGIC!

Always,

Elder B Hellberg

December 1, 2010

Dear home!

I have officially been a Missionary... for 356 days (on Thursday)!!!!
It's mind-blowing. Time is very messed up right now... part of me thinks that it's been YEARS since I left my home in Salt Lake... and part of me thinks that I've only been in the Big Apple for a few weeks! Either way, my calender doesn't lie and I only have 1 year left- cranking up the pressure notch! I feel accomplished thus far, but I have much more than 1 year worth of stuff left to do- better get DOING it!

I'm SO EXCITED FOR CHRISTMAS! It's truly the happiest time of the year. There are big light-displays and set-ups all over the city, big trees in all the stores and in many of the apartments... it's crisp outside and Spirit of Christmas approaches! We have started handing out the "Regocijaos, Jesus Nacio!" pass along cards! (Rejoice, Christ was Born!) I love it here in winter- it's cold, but everybody's hearts are a little warmer. People Smile and sing and all the crazy rap music is slowly becoming Christmas Music!

Elder Mitchell and I get along great! He's such a cool guy. He's 23 from Michigan, and is of African-American descent... making me, once again, the only white guy in the city! Haha! He's hilarious and we work together great. He already knows Spanish pretty well- but we have some good Spanish studies planned to help us both!

I gave a TALK in Spanish in Sacrament meeting on sunday! It was a little nerve-wracking at first... but it went okay!

WE'RE MOVING.............AGAIN!! BAHAH!! But this time... We're MOving.... to the HEART of LITTLE ITALY!! YAY!! Every morning at about 9 and every night about the same time- you throw open your window and in comes the fresh and wonderful smell of Italian Bread!! They have so many bakeries down there, that it makes a billow of warm bread air that blankets the area! It's so great! PLUS we live a block away from Palombos famous Italian pastry house! Cannolis and hot chocolate- and GELATO! (Dad, they have Caramel... Not quite as good as Asisi, but ALMOST!!) It's Mah-velous. We're moving into a remodeled basement apartment, with a big patio! And we even have a secret entrance to get in! You can't enter through the normal building entrance- there is a secret tunnel!!

We have a fun service project we do on Friday mornings! We play pool at an old-folks home for abooot a half-hour, then serve all of them food! Our district gets in these hilarious aprons and hats and gloves and we run around with hot plates of food for an hour. Afterwards, we sing to them! It's so fun! Last week, we sang Called to Serve and Somewhere over the Rainbow!

As far as teaching goes, all is going well! We're still working with many incredible people. Gabino, Roberto, Gloria, Inez, Jorge, Nelson, Hector, Flor, Sandra, Rosario, Marcela, Angie, Nancy and others- all of which are getting closer and closer to baptism. Many have told us of their desires to be baptized- and many are progressing and excited about the Gospel. It's such a blessing to be a Missionary and feel so attached and have such a great love for these people, and see them commit to following the Savior.

I love you all!
The Church is TRUE!
B safe. B happy! B REGOCIJANDO!

Elder Hellberg