Remember how in my last Email, I blabbered off about how wonderful the weather is and how beautiful everything is becoming and yadda yadda yadda? Yeah. Fail. It's back to 21 degrees and snowing. SO back on with the gloves and hats and scarves (scarfs?... hmm...) and big puffy make-me-look-fatter-than-I-am-which-is-already-pretty-fatty coats. Ahem.
HELLO! FROM ANOTHER EPIC WEEK here in The Deathly Hallows! (Missionary Dubbed name for my area. I think it's catchy.)
Although things are cold again, things are going well for us here in the AREA! YAY! We have officially implemented the "UNSTOPPABLE PATTI PLAN," which is a Missionary/Member operation we invented with one of the Members here in our area, named Patti! She's AWESOME. She actually served here in the NYNYN Mission a while back- and then came back, married and had a family here in the same area she served in for the majority of her Mission! He family is incredible. Their family and us two are working with many of the Dominican Families here- primarily the youth. Patti is the Young Women's President in the Branch, and her husband, Arturo, is the Young Men's President. Works out perfectly. :) We're so excited to work together!
BAHAHAH! Okay Daddy, this is for you! You're going to hear this ONCE. SO LISTEN UP! I AM TRULY learning and understanding some of the COMMON emotions you must have felt having me as a Son. Here's why.
About a week ago, I was making a scrapbook thing for another Elder, and I went to my desk for my Scissors. I couldn't find them- for about 15 minutes I searched, and to no avail. I asked my companion if he had seen them, he told me he used them, but he put them back. I went back to searching, and about 25 minutes later found them in HIS drawer in HIS DESK. I took them back to my desk and (a little frustratedly) began to work on the scrapbook. I opened the drawer where my glue stick NORMALLY would be, and like the scissors, it was missing. I asked my companion if he had seen it. SAME response as the scissors. I looked around for about 10 MORE minutes- and found MY glue stick hidden in the corner behind HIS desk. I said to him very sternly, "ELDER, look, I DON'T CARE if you use my things- as long as you PUT THEM BACK WHERE THEY GO WHEN YOU ARE DONE." I walked about 5 feet away- and started laughing HYSTERICALLY. I heard the EXACT same words come out of MY MOUTH in the EXACT same tone that I have heard from you my whole life!!!
Another Incident- IRONICALLY this morning.
So, about 2 weeks ago, I bought a new ECKO unlmtd black jacket from the Burlington Coat Factory in White Plains... with the Intent of wearing it proselyting. After the first day I wore it, I felt it might not be appropriate for everyday Missionary work... it looked a little too COOL to be a "Missionary Jacket." So, I decided to put my brand new jacket in the closet and use it only on P-days. A few days later, one of the Elders I live with, found the Jacket in my closet, and brought it to me and asked "Hey Hellberg, can I wear this jacket today? It's pretty cool!" I thought it over... and reluctantly said "Yes.." and then threw the conditions on "I want it back on my desk by 9:30! That night it was on my desk at 9:30. Pretty good, I thought. THE NEXT DAY, he asked AGAIN if he could wear it. I said "yes" again, because he was SO good to return my jacket to me the previous day. I said again "put it back when you are done!" He mumbled okay, and that was that. I forgot about it for a few days, until TODAY, which is P-DAY. I got up, got dressed and excitedly went to my Closet to put on my BRAND NEW ECKO jacket to wear for P-day... and it wasn't there. I went to The other Elder's room... and they had already left for laundry. I was FUMED. THE ONE DAY I get to wear my BRAND NEW JACKET and he, WITHOUT returning it to me, TAKES THE LIBERTY of KEEPING it... I called and they had already left for the day, and we weren't going to see them for the rest of the day. We drove to the Laundromat and I silently (like you do) chewed him out all the way there... WHEN SUDDENLY I realized how familiar this situation was.. except that I had always been on the other END!! BAHAH! You are getting your SWEET SWEET revenge without even being here to witness it!! I do so many things like you! It's a little unnerving... But I truly hope I can be SOMEWHAT as grand as my dad! He's the best :-)
This Friday our Mission has an incredible opportunity- Elder Bednar of the 12 Apostles is coming to meet with our Missionaries, in a Question/Answer type setting. I still remember vividly the Youth Conference of 2009 with the NSL Stake when Elder Bednar came. That special meeting was one of the many experiences that helped me decide to serve a Mission and prepared me to enter the MTC 6 months later. HOW truly cool it is to be able to, 20 months later, have the same type meeting during my Mission with the SAME Apostle who was so influential in my decision and dedication to serve.
Time still continues to shock me. It's ALREADY Feb 23- this time last year I was settling into my apartment in the Bronx, getting to know my trainer Elder Richardson. SO much has happened since then. (Oh yeah, and Happy Birthday Richie! On the 17th I think!) My posterity is going to HATE me- I keep an AWFUL journal... I'll skip a few months, then write fervently for 3 weeks straight... when my habit of Journal-writing tanks again.. Forgive me, Great Great Grandchildren! :S
I love you all SO much. Thank you for all you do. Please be safe and strong and happy and well!
The Church is TRUE!
ALL MY LOVE!
Elder Brandon Hellberg
Thursday, February 24, 2011
FEB 16 2011
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!! (hahaha I had to re-type this opening line after I realized I put 'HAPPY THANKSGIVING!' I'm glad I caught it! hahah! ...silly...)
ANYWHO! Things are going mah-velously! The weather here is picking right up! It's all FRESH and bright! I'm rockin' the aviator sunglasses (only while driving... promise.) and it's JUST about warm enough to lose the big heavy winter artillery coats and wear our normal suit jackets!! HooRAY!!
This past week has gone so well! Elder Fotu and I have found some great new people we are teaching. One is named Marosi- she is from the Dominican Republic, but has lived in SPAIN for the past 4 years and has adopted the "Theta"... all C's with an 'e' or 'i' after them and all Z's sound like the consonant sound "th". So "Gracias" sounds like "Grathias". It's cool! Our Branch President speaks that way too- as he lived in Spain for 11 years after serving his Mission in MEXICO! Marosi is 15 years old, and LOVES the Young Women program. She's already been reading the Personal Progress and has gone to a Stake Dance! So cool. We had a touching Family Home Evening with her and a family in our branch- she is very excited and receptive to the Gospel.
On Friday, the 25th, ELDER DAVID A BEDNAR of the 12 is coming to SPEAK WITH US! Just the Missionaries! In a question / answer setting! And I'm playing the ORGAN! AHH! hahaha! Numbers 5 and 6! High on a mountain top, and Reedemer of IsraeL! I'm nervous- but excited! :)
Haha today Elder Fotu and I went to the Beach in our area- right on the Hudson river. It basically looks like a picturesque alien landscape. A lot is frozen- but the parts that aren't are riddled with big (1-3 feet across) discs of ice that have been well rounded from bumping into each other. There are THOUSANDS of them, pulsating with the waves of the river- it looks SO cool. PLUS, Elder Fotu and I practiced good stress-relief techniques: throwing HEAVY ice chunks off the Pier, knocking down HUGE icicles, drawing in the sand and making sand/ice castles, jumping off of rocks, taking pictures of distant Manhattan from the dock, and trying to communicate with the shivering ducks. The only part that caused me to be disturbed a bit was when Elder Fotu had a 45 minute conversation with a bamboo reed. Hmmmm. :) It was a succesful P-Day activity.
A few days ago, Elder Knuth and I went on a Split in MY area, Sleepy Hollow. As you are on the freeway heading TOWARDS the area, you HAVE to take EXIT 9, or you will CROSS the Tappan Zee Bridge across the Hudson river and into Rockland County, and LEAVE MISSION BOUNDARIES!! AHHH!! So... I've been extra careful to MAKE SURE and take EXIT 9. It's been kind of a common joke... "Hey, you wanna get outta this place and meet up with the New Jersey Elders today..?"... Of course we would never really do that.... BUT- on this split with Elder Knuth- we were on our way to dinner, and the GPS led us this random route I'd never been on before, going towards the freeway. I figured my little Garmin buddy knew what he was doin, so I followed... SUDDENLY I realized we were merging with 4 lanes of traffic... and about a quarter mile STRAIGHT in front of us was the GIANT GLOWING FRAME of the Tappan Zee. FAIL. WIth no other turn around points, we were FORCED to cross the bridge (which, was actually pretty cool- AMAZING veiws of the Empire State Building..). I'm pretty sure the GPS the Mission Office gave us, ONLY WORKS in Mission Boundaries... and has a Tracking Device in it... becuase ONCE we got to the other side, the GPS lost service and a little flashing sign in the corner turned RED. Elder Knuth and I were SURE that we were going to shortly hear the whirling of the blades on President Smith's Helicopter. Anywho. It took us 25 mintues to get UNLOST and find our way BACK to the bridge, cross it again, and pay the 5$ toll. Luckily, we weren't late for Dinner. :)
All is going well with the people we are teaching. We continue to visit Jose and his family- and many other wonderful people. I feel so blessed to be here at this time. We are knocking doors and teaching and learning and laughing and awaiting the beauty of SPRING. We got transfer calls last night, and Elder Fotu and I are both up again for round 2 here in the Deathly Hallows! Wish us luck!
Love you all so MUCH! Be safe!
The Church is TRUE!
All is well!
Elder Hellberg
ANYWHO! Things are going mah-velously! The weather here is picking right up! It's all FRESH and bright! I'm rockin' the aviator sunglasses (only while driving... promise.) and it's JUST about warm enough to lose the big heavy winter artillery coats and wear our normal suit jackets!! HooRAY!!
This past week has gone so well! Elder Fotu and I have found some great new people we are teaching. One is named Marosi- she is from the Dominican Republic, but has lived in SPAIN for the past 4 years and has adopted the "Theta"... all C's with an 'e' or 'i' after them and all Z's sound like the consonant sound "th". So "Gracias" sounds like "Grathias". It's cool! Our Branch President speaks that way too- as he lived in Spain for 11 years after serving his Mission in MEXICO! Marosi is 15 years old, and LOVES the Young Women program. She's already been reading the Personal Progress and has gone to a Stake Dance! So cool. We had a touching Family Home Evening with her and a family in our branch- she is very excited and receptive to the Gospel.
On Friday, the 25th, ELDER DAVID A BEDNAR of the 12 is coming to SPEAK WITH US! Just the Missionaries! In a question / answer setting! And I'm playing the ORGAN! AHH! hahaha! Numbers 5 and 6! High on a mountain top, and Reedemer of IsraeL! I'm nervous- but excited! :)
Haha today Elder Fotu and I went to the Beach in our area- right on the Hudson river. It basically looks like a picturesque alien landscape. A lot is frozen- but the parts that aren't are riddled with big (1-3 feet across) discs of ice that have been well rounded from bumping into each other. There are THOUSANDS of them, pulsating with the waves of the river- it looks SO cool. PLUS, Elder Fotu and I practiced good stress-relief techniques: throwing HEAVY ice chunks off the Pier, knocking down HUGE icicles, drawing in the sand and making sand/ice castles, jumping off of rocks, taking pictures of distant Manhattan from the dock, and trying to communicate with the shivering ducks. The only part that caused me to be disturbed a bit was when Elder Fotu had a 45 minute conversation with a bamboo reed. Hmmmm. :) It was a succesful P-Day activity.
A few days ago, Elder Knuth and I went on a Split in MY area, Sleepy Hollow. As you are on the freeway heading TOWARDS the area, you HAVE to take EXIT 9, or you will CROSS the Tappan Zee Bridge across the Hudson river and into Rockland County, and LEAVE MISSION BOUNDARIES!! AHHH!! So... I've been extra careful to MAKE SURE and take EXIT 9. It's been kind of a common joke... "Hey, you wanna get outta this place and meet up with the New Jersey Elders today..?"... Of course we would never really do that.... BUT- on this split with Elder Knuth- we were on our way to dinner, and the GPS led us this random route I'd never been on before, going towards the freeway. I figured my little Garmin buddy knew what he was doin, so I followed... SUDDENLY I realized we were merging with 4 lanes of traffic... and about a quarter mile STRAIGHT in front of us was the GIANT GLOWING FRAME of the Tappan Zee. FAIL. WIth no other turn around points, we were FORCED to cross the bridge (which, was actually pretty cool- AMAZING veiws of the Empire State Building..). I'm pretty sure the GPS the Mission Office gave us, ONLY WORKS in Mission Boundaries... and has a Tracking Device in it... becuase ONCE we got to the other side, the GPS lost service and a little flashing sign in the corner turned RED. Elder Knuth and I were SURE that we were going to shortly hear the whirling of the blades on President Smith's Helicopter. Anywho. It took us 25 mintues to get UNLOST and find our way BACK to the bridge, cross it again, and pay the 5$ toll. Luckily, we weren't late for Dinner. :)
All is going well with the people we are teaching. We continue to visit Jose and his family- and many other wonderful people. I feel so blessed to be here at this time. We are knocking doors and teaching and learning and laughing and awaiting the beauty of SPRING. We got transfer calls last night, and Elder Fotu and I are both up again for round 2 here in the Deathly Hallows! Wish us luck!
Love you all so MUCH! Be safe!
The Church is TRUE!
All is well!
Elder Hellberg
2/9
FEB 9 2011
BRRRRRRRRRRRRR!! The crazy blizzard weather has finally calmed down... but now it is just COLD!!! Yesterday we went knocking doors in 9 degree weather! (I bet Elder Bitner is probably colder in Moscow though...?)
Anyway! Hello!
I can't believe how fast this cycle went by. Transfers are already next week! Time is crazy weird.
We are reading the Book of Mormon as a Mission right now- we are on 2 Nephi 10. It's such a cool thing when you have 140 Missionaries all reading and talking about the same stories and experiences in the Book of Mormon at the same time. It's almost as if we are following a TV series together... we read in the Morning and throughout the week talk about what we read. You are all welcome to read WITH us!! :D This week's reading is 2 Nephi 10-17!!
I had such a sweet experience this last week. We are teaching a part-member family in our area, they are from the Dominican Republic. The son and one of the daughters are Members, and a few siblings and the parents are not. We visited the mom, and she tearfully told us her story of the past 6 months. Her husband and her recently decided to get married after living together for nearly 30 years. Shortly thereafter he had a terrible series of 4 strokes, and is currently living at a rest home. He cannot walk, speaks jumbled and very slowly, is nearly blind, and can't remember much. After visiting his wife, we decided to go to the rest home and see him. His name is Jose. We went inside and found him in the 'Day Room', alone in a corner in his wheel chair, hunched over, wearing a blue Yankees cap. We slowly walked over to him, and I knelt by him and asked if he was Jose. He said yes, and I told him we were Missionaries. I talked to him a little about the Dominican Republic, the Yankees, and what he used to do for work. He was fairly hard to understand, but we were able to talk openly. I asked him if he had a family here- he began to sob, and said yes. I put my hand on his shoulder and I asked him about them, and he told me how he loved them. I began to cry. I asked him if he believes in God. He began to shake a little, and after about 10 seconds his brow furled and he began to cry harder and said "Si." I said I did too. I told him about his family and how God had a plan for them- and that he could be with them again after this life. We just cried and talked together for about 20 minutes. It was such a special moment for me. I sang to him "Abide with me: 'tis eventide", we talked a bit more, and he asked us to come back and visit him often.
I love this Gospel. I have seen such an increase in Faith not only in those we teach but also in myself. I am beginning to understand more fully the Love that God has for me by the love and goodness he shows others through his servants. I love the Book of Mormon. Reading it is the sure way to grow faith and become secure in the foundation of the Lord. I love the Savior. I have felt His support- when I am discouraged and cold and grumpy, feeling alone on a frozen doorstep- my companion and I pray, and the Lord always picks us back up and helps us to get going again.
That being said,
I'm hoping the temperature will pick up soon!!! Ahh!
The Church is TRUE!- EVEN when it's Missionaries are frozen!!
All my love,
Elder Brandon Hellberg
BRRRRRRRRRRRRR!! The crazy blizzard weather has finally calmed down... but now it is just COLD!!! Yesterday we went knocking doors in 9 degree weather! (I bet Elder Bitner is probably colder in Moscow though...?)
Anyway! Hello!
I can't believe how fast this cycle went by. Transfers are already next week! Time is crazy weird.
We are reading the Book of Mormon as a Mission right now- we are on 2 Nephi 10. It's such a cool thing when you have 140 Missionaries all reading and talking about the same stories and experiences in the Book of Mormon at the same time. It's almost as if we are following a TV series together... we read in the Morning and throughout the week talk about what we read. You are all welcome to read WITH us!! :D This week's reading is 2 Nephi 10-17!!
I had such a sweet experience this last week. We are teaching a part-member family in our area, they are from the Dominican Republic. The son and one of the daughters are Members, and a few siblings and the parents are not. We visited the mom, and she tearfully told us her story of the past 6 months. Her husband and her recently decided to get married after living together for nearly 30 years. Shortly thereafter he had a terrible series of 4 strokes, and is currently living at a rest home. He cannot walk, speaks jumbled and very slowly, is nearly blind, and can't remember much. After visiting his wife, we decided to go to the rest home and see him. His name is Jose. We went inside and found him in the 'Day Room', alone in a corner in his wheel chair, hunched over, wearing a blue Yankees cap. We slowly walked over to him, and I knelt by him and asked if he was Jose. He said yes, and I told him we were Missionaries. I talked to him a little about the Dominican Republic, the Yankees, and what he used to do for work. He was fairly hard to understand, but we were able to talk openly. I asked him if he had a family here- he began to sob, and said yes. I put my hand on his shoulder and I asked him about them, and he told me how he loved them. I began to cry. I asked him if he believes in God. He began to shake a little, and after about 10 seconds his brow furled and he began to cry harder and said "Si." I said I did too. I told him about his family and how God had a plan for them- and that he could be with them again after this life. We just cried and talked together for about 20 minutes. It was such a special moment for me. I sang to him "Abide with me: 'tis eventide", we talked a bit more, and he asked us to come back and visit him often.
I love this Gospel. I have seen such an increase in Faith not only in those we teach but also in myself. I am beginning to understand more fully the Love that God has for me by the love and goodness he shows others through his servants. I love the Book of Mormon. Reading it is the sure way to grow faith and become secure in the foundation of the Lord. I love the Savior. I have felt His support- when I am discouraged and cold and grumpy, feeling alone on a frozen doorstep- my companion and I pray, and the Lord always picks us back up and helps us to get going again.
That being said,
I'm hoping the temperature will pick up soon!!! Ahh!
The Church is TRUE!- EVEN when it's Missionaries are frozen!!
All my love,
Elder Brandon Hellberg
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
feb 2
Good Evening HOME!!
ANOTHER important date has come and gone! I, as of today, (February 2nd, 2011), have been in New York for 1 YEAR. AHH! I still can remember my emotions 365 days ago as I walked off the plane into the brisk air around JFK Int'l Airport... Going to the Mission Home... Meeting my first companion and Trainer... hearing I was going to be serving in the Bronx!! Time has been so strange to me. All those things feel SO distant… but I can remember them as if they were last week- and it feels like only mere months have gone by, not a whole calendar year.
It is SO cold!! The cars have been grounded all day until now because of the America-wide arctic BLAST- we've had awful freezing rain! No joke, our parking lot looked like an ICE-SKATING-RINK. It's been very cold! I have no idea how the rest of the country is doing, but I heard it's a huge storm- and that basically everywhere is gettin' it pretty bad! How has the big terrible storm hit Utah? I hope everyone is warm and safe!!
I have gotten a few of your letters! Thank you so much. I know I'm a Lame-sauce writer-backer, but I am so grateful for your love and support! I never feel forgotten! :) Things are improving here. :) I can feel your prayers combined with MY prayers- and they are working! :D
We had Dinner at President’s house- just 8 of us Missionaries- it was SO great. We ate with him and Sister Smith- then went to the living room of the Mission Home and had a big long open discussion about the ups and downs of the Mission. We got to ask anything and he was so friendly and fun - he's pretty professional when he's up in front of the whole mission- but I love it in interviews or smaller meetings- he is such a great guy- (reminds me of DAD!)
In a few Sundays, it'll be Missionary Sunday- and we're going to give talks! :S Excited/Nervous!
We are teaching some incredible people right now. Most of them are from the Dominican Republic, a few from Ecuador! Most of them we have found through knocking doors! It's such a blessing to be able to be invited into someone's house and share our message with them- for the first time! One of the Dominican families we are teaching has 6 OTHER families related to them living in the nearby areas- and we are teaching MOST of them! Haha! And one of the ladies related is actually already an active member in the Branch!
Hey- just got the call! Gotta leave right now to go home, cars grounded again!
I love you, please be happy and warm! Love you!!!
I am so grateful to be a part of this work. I know that what I am doing as a Missionary is what the Lord wants me to do- and I LOVE doing it.
The Church is TRUE!
B safe! B Warm! B fighting the STORM!!
Always,
Elder Brandon Hellberg
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
