FEB 23 2011

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