April 20, 2011

Hello HOME!

APRIL 20! AHHH!

I'm not even going to make my usual comments on how fast time is going- it feels like I made last week's time comment YESTERDAY!! AHH!!
Things are going well here in the far south of Westchester county!! We are currently in the Scarsdale Chapel and I'm pretty sure I just saw Jay-Z and Beyonce in a Lamborghini Gallardo on our way in!! I definitely saw the car... and they live about 300 yards from the church... so it's possible!! I'm pretending I saw them even if I didn't.

SO Elder Clark and I actually have a pretty good exercise plan!! I have committed myself to lose this extra poundage I have already gained up here in the land of Upstate!! So... we go running every morning from about 6:30 to 7:20-30 depending on how much we ate the day before. We run thru the crazed streets of YONKERS. We usually run down to the Hudson or to the schools. When I start getting tired and want to start heading back to the apartment I just begin to let my arms flail run weirdly- We laugh and both pretend to run like Phoebe from 'Friends'! Haha we get so many weird stares on the way home!!

These next few days coming up we have several BIG service projects planned- from helping people move houses to cleaning and landscaping backyards!! haha! We are excited. One of the Ladies we are helping on Saturday morning to move is a former investigator of the church- and she kept the number of the Missionaries for YEARS- and called us and asked us if we could help her move to her new apartment. CooL!

We have had some HUGE storms lately!! Flooding and lightning! The Bronx River Parkway was FLOODED on Monday- not just like wet- there was 2 feet of STANDING WATER on the road. The designers of the pkwy might have not understood the nature of the river right next to it... when it rains in NY, it RAINS. And when it RAINS, it FLOODS. haha! It looks really cool though- the windy road juts and dives in and out of the water with the hills it's built on. :) We had to find a different way up to the church and then to all the families we were going to teach that day.

Yesterday we were asked to visit 2 different people in 2 different hospitals by 2 different members of the Branch- one a member and one not. It was such a good experience. There is such reverence in a quiet hospital room, filled with family members of the critically sick, as they close their eyes and listen and pray in their hearts as we administer to the afflicted. We always explain to the person receiving the blessing and the family the meaning and power of the blessing and that it is in accordance with the faith of all those present and the will of the Lord. Almost always, it is a teary emotional and spiritual experience. We always leave feeling good- it always seems like everyone is on OUR side when we make special trips like that- when we explain who we are and what we are doing to the receptionist she smiles and says "oh yes yes yes" and gives us visitor passes- and even the guy at the pay booth in the parking garage, after we explain we are clergy from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, smiles and says "of course, sirs." and opens the gate for us. It's just a good feeling to be part of something so good.

I feel so blessed right now. We are teaching many incredible people. The area we are teaching in is VERY different from the ones I have experienced in the Bronx- It is much harder to find people to teach and many have very hard situations preventing them from being able to attend church. But we are keepin' out chins up and pushin' forward! We have seen many miracles already here- and I know there are more miracles to see!

Sister Dunagan and I are going to sing the same rendition of "All Creatures of Our God and King" but in SPANISH to our Ward this coming EASTER SUNDAY! HOORAY! HAPPY EASTER!

B safe, B swell, B jogging strangely!! ;)
The CHURCH is TRUE!
I cut my hair again! It's SUPER SHORT!
HAPPY EASTER!!
ALL my LOVE,

Elder Hellberg

April 13, 2011

Hello My DEAR HOME!!
HOW are you all DOING this week!?
This last week went by even FASTER than the LAST week! It's been a good one.

I'm having problems getting blocks of time to write... SO, THIS week I have decided to express how I am doing thru PICTURES!!

The Church is TRUE!
Always and Forever,

Elder Hellberg

hehe

***note from Carlie****

Because I'm am currently residing in China, the proxy that I access this website with cannot post pictures.

April 6, 2011

MY dear HOME!
Hello!
WHAT a wonderful weekend of CONFERENCE!! I just LOVED it! Many people have commented that this last conference was one of - if not - the best ever! There's something very POWERFUL to be felt knowing that all over the world, Millions of saints are gathered to listen to the Prophet and other leaders of the Church.

Things are going well- Elder Clark and I are doing awesome! We love our Yonkers pad... (Minus the parking situation... we have to manuever our large Chevy Malibu into the TIGHTEST parking space between to pillars I have ever seen. It seriously took me 11 minutes and a 27-point turn to get out the first time. Now i have down pretty good... like a 6 or 7 point turn... but it's still ridiculous.) BUT other than that all is going well there. We live with Elder Scott and Elder Stratton- two great Elders who serve in the English program here in Yonkers. Elder Clark is still familiarizing with the area and loves it so far- we have met all the members (not too difficult haha) and have begun our adventure!

Time is slipping away SO FAST! Sorry- I'm ONCE again out of time... I LOVE YOU ALL!
Always,
Elder Hellberg

March 30, 2011

DEAR HOME!!

-TRANSFER DAY-

Hello! I'm still here in the Deathly Hallows!! Elder Fotu got transferred up to Ossining- pretty close to this area- and I am TRAINING again!! SO funny- Elder Fotu was 6' 6" ... and my new comp, Elder Clark is 6' 6" too! BOTH huge football players. I don't think I've had a companion that is shorter than me. Haha! Elder Clark is from Layton, UT- and went to SUU! Haha in Missionary Lingo we say that the person you train is your "Son"- and Elder Mitchell, my OTHER son in the Bronx- is training too- making me a GRANDPA!! Hahaha!! Also, we moved from Port Chester to YONKERS- which is just like the Bronx but hillier (like... has more hills.) and a lot less potholes. !!

It seems like the last few weeks/transfer cycles have just BLOWN by. I can't believe already it's time for GENERAL CONFERENCE again!! For the which I am SUPER excited!! I still remember when I was with Elder Peine in Kingsbridge in OCTOBER for Conference! So crazy!

Today was a sad transfer!! I said goodbye to 3 Missionaries whom I LOVE! Elder Lopez, Elder Berry, and Elder FOX!! If you'll remember with me (waaaayy back in Olmstead..) Elder Fox and Elder Bayard took me under their wing after Elder Richardson took off a wee bit early leaving me ALONE for 2 1/2 weeks! So Elder Fox, by all Missionary means, is my Foster Dad. Bayard can be the Foster Mom. :D I still remember all of our good ole times... Herbert and Beyoncea the friendly house mice we loved until their dying day... Running from dark forces and kicking pidgeons... Mahaha! I'm going to miss him. :( All of them! Elder Berry and Lopez were with me in Kingsbridge! All of these people I love are LEAVING ME!! AHHH!

HEY all sorry not a lot of time today! Will write more next week! I hope!

Always~

Elder Hellberg