Wednesday May, 19, 2010

Hello home!

How is everyone doing!?

Hahaha I felt so jipped last time! My laptop cut out and I lost my WHOLE e-mail! So sketchy! So by the time I got a little of it typed again, I ran out of time! Hahaha welcome to Bronx public library! Nah it's actually a pretty good system they've got going here :)

It's been a rainy last couple of days here in the Bronx, New York! It rained so bad yesterday! Painfully cold and wet :( I cannot believe it's already almost JUNE! Can you believe my 6 month mark is in 13 days!? NOT THAT I’M COUNTING! haha truly I’m not, I just figured it out quick this morning!

Mother's day was great- got to talk to my family and Carlie- it was so great to hear all your voices! For some Missionaries it stirs up homesickness and kinda kicks the Missionary out of commission for a few days- but I feel energized and great! It was so great to get to talk to you guys. :)

So, remember how I was starting to grow fond of the little Mice that have taken shelter in our apartment? NO MORE. We came home one night and there was one of the nasty little demons on my BED. MY BED. This. Means. WAR. I have every kind of trap waiting for the fiends- snap traps, glue traps, poison- and I'm buying one of those sonic rat-blasters next time we stop at Duane Read. I tried playing nice- I even hosted one and gave it a home to live in a bucket- and this is how they repay me? MOUSE DROPPINGS in my BED!?!?! Arg I'm gonna get some awful VIRUS or something. Open Warfare I tell you... WARFARE!!

Bahaha so there is this SUPER awesome Member in the Ward from Chile named Hermano Cerda and he LOVES going out teaching with the Missionaries. He's in his early 70's and works at the Manhattan Temple! We took him out teaching the other day and we were waiting at a bus stop when a small Mexican man ran up and patted him on the shoulder. Hermano Cerda looked surprised, then said "Augusto, my friend! It's been too long!" Turns out he knew him a long time ago back when there was just a branch instead of a Ward here in Olmstead. Hermano Cerda asked why he hadn't been to church in so long! The man shrugged and said I dunno I just didn't see the need." Hermano Cerda then looked at him firmly in the eyes then SMACKED him square on the face and told him to get back to church!! Hahaha It was so funny! I told my companion I was going to be that bold and just start smacking people and tell them to get to church!! Baha!

Something very touching happened a few days ago- My companion and I went to follow-up on a recent door tract we had done a few days previously. We knocked on the door and a shy Mexican woman opened the door very timidly. We exchanged hello's and we started talking about our message and asked if there was a time we could come back. She seemed flustered and uninterested and told us she didn't have any time due to her son's 'therapy' and that maybe in a few weeks we could return and see her. We gave her a pass-along card and were about to leave when I felt to ask what her son was in therapy for. It was kind of an odd feeling and at an odd time, right at the end of the conversation- she'd already said goodbye. Awkwardly, I asked why her son needed therapy, trying not to sound rude or prying. Her eyes widened, and she began to say "my son..." She started to cry and told us that her son was almost 2 years old and hadn't begun to walk or talk yet and that she had therapists coming to her house nearly 4 times a week to work with him. She opened up and talked to us right there at her door for nearly 20 minutes, just crying and telling us her life story. It was sad, but I could tell it was relieving for her just to be able to talk to somebody. She expressed sincere thanks for listening and invited us to come back a few days later. We did, and we taught the Plan of Salvation and taught her of the Resurrection. It was SO touching and powerful to see her realize and receive confirmation of the truth that her son would some day be able to say and do everything he had potential for doing. We're going back in a few days to give her a CD of church music she asked for- she said peaceful music calms her son!

Last week for Zone Conference, Elder Robbins from the 70 came- it was so cool! He talked to the Missionaries about so many interesting and important things. He taught us about reverence and agency and the changing world and some new things the Church is going to be doing in the years to come. It was very powerful and uplifting- plus he speaks Spanish!

I'm so excited for P-day today- our district is going to go to the church and Watch Joseph Smith- Prophet of the Restoration and then play soccer and Pokemon Monopoly!! Bahaha! P-day is such a blessing!!

I saw something pretty intense the other day as we were on the train down to Mott Haven. We were slowly passing by St Lawrence Avenue Station and off to the left of our train we saw a big apartment building with big flames climbing out of the second story windows and licking the walls of the building all the way up to the 5th floor! There were people starting to gather and they all had their cell phones out calling- and right after that we went underground so I couldn't call 911! Elder Prue says I'm making this up- but I'm so NOT! I SAW a lady on the 3rd floor in a window banging on the glass! Orange shirt, short black hair! I swear I saw it! We heard from a member that the fire was put out pretty quickly and nobody was hurt- which relieved me- but still! Scary, right?

I love this Gospel, and I'm so honored and privileged to be out here representing the Savior Jesus Christ! This Church is TRUE! Love you all- be safe, be happy be strong!!

Always and Forever,

Elder Brandon Hellberg

Mother's Day!

Helllllo Home!

OH my stars it was so good to be able to call home and talk to my family- love you all SO much! Sorry I was so waterworks! Haha I just get all worked up sometimes! I felt SUCH a warm peace afterwards, knowing that all of you are safe and happy and well and all that jazz :)

I'm so excited for tomorrow night! We're having a special Spanish fireside by Elder Lynn Robbins of the Quorum of the Seventy- he's coming and speaking in the Kingsbridge Chapel! All the Missionaries are invited too, and we're bringing with us a bunch of recent converts and investigators! I'm so excited! The little flyers we're passing out to our members and teaching pool say "Especially for those who have recently joined the Church and for those who are non-members!" We're taking with us (I'm PRAYING) at least 6 of our current investigators, if not more! Oh I'm excited! :D

Haha funny experience Yesterday... we had a lookup for a man named Victor in one of the big apartment buildings down in our area, so Juan from the ward (our future-missionary), Elder Minter (we were on a companionship exchange, District Leader stuff...) and I went out to search for this Victor man. We went all the way to the top to what was supposed to be his apartment, but a lady answered and told us to go knock on a different door, and the family there would know how to reach this Victor. We said thank you and gave her a pass-along card and went a few floors down to the other apartment. The same thing happened- a man answered... "Victor... Victor... ya know, go to apartment 2G, their a friend of his sister..." So again, we said thank you, asked him if we could come back and teach him (said no, but took a pass along card), and went on our way to a different apartment in search of Victor. This process repeated several times! It was like our fun little game of Clue- only "Where's Victor?" We would ask "Se encuentra Victor?" We'd always get back a funny answer like "Uhh, the fat guy? Yeah I know somebody who knows him.." So we played this game for quite a while- to find out that the Victor we'd been searching for was no longer living there- but that it was also the wrong Victor. Hahaha! At least we got a few good contacts in the building!

.......then the computer cut out on him.....GAH.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Cinco de Mayo!

OH hello!

Another week has simply flown by! It's a Beautiful May morning here and it's glorious!! NYC in the Spring!

So last week Momma asked how transfers work...

SO. The Monday night before transfers (Transfers are on Wednesdays) the Zone Leaders get a call from someone in the Office (President, Assistants, or Senior Couples) as to who is being transferred and who is staying. The Zone leaders then call the district leaders, who then call the individual missionaries to tell them they are being transferred. That way, you have a full day (more or less) to say goodbye to ward members and investigators before getting shipped off to your new area on Wednesday morning. It's quite the process. We all meet in the gym at the Kingsbridge Chapel where we meet the new incoming missionaries from the MTC, say goodbye to the old missionaries going home, and have a big suspenseful party as the names of who-will-be-who's-new-companion are shouted out by the Assistants. There are hugs and shouts and occasionally tears as old friends reunite and new friends are made. It's all very strategical. Bahahaha if I was mission President... I would tell everyone to pack up (all 150 Missionaries) and we'd meet in a big open field. I wouldn't call beforehand to let anybody know if they were being transferred... then I'd shout at them "RUN! GO! PICK YOUR NEW COMPANION!!" Bahaha then I'd laugh an evil laugh as the chaos ensued. Good thing the Lord gives the direction and not me, right? Hehehe...

SO I heard there was a tornado in Utah? In Logan nonetheless? Whaaa? Somebody fill me in!

Maaa, Have you gotten my letter in the mail yet?! I sent you a birthday card! :) Also, THANK YOU so much for the package- I got it yesterday- the sudafed and benadryl work miracles! :) I LOVE getting letters from you. Some Elder's parents have stopped writing their Missionaries- promise me that won't be you guys! :( haha I know it won't be- you guys are my best friends! :) Although I don't get to write back much due to time, please know that I think about you ALL the time-

I love my new companion Elder Prue! He's going to hit his year mark in a couple of days, so neither of us are quite Veterans I'd say. We work good together- we're a team! We have some big plans for our area and hope to see some fruit this cycle! We have already hit it off well and have taught some great new families and hope to teach more!

So I'm on top bunk, right? Maybe this should change. A few nights ago, I somehow managed to fall off during the middle of the night and bonk my head REALLY hard on the wooden armrest of the couch. This must have knocked something (hopefully temporarily) loose, because for some reason my next thought was "Bathtub!" ....? ....? I know, right? So I crawled to the bathtub rubbing my head and just climbed in and laid there for a good half a minute... until I kinda came to and realized I was laying in an empty bathtub in the middle of the night. SoI crawled back to my bed very confused and went back to sleep! I really don't understand quite what happened but I woke up the next morning and had to laugh at myself (as I babied the big bump on the back of my head!!)!

Yesterday our zone and the Kingsbridge zone had a meeting with President Smith at the Kingsbridge Chapel. It was so cool! We talked about numbers and baptisms and the new vision of the mission. We also got spiffy new notebooks full of information and stuff! Oooh! I love President Smith- he's such an incredible man! When does Bishop Taylor leave for the MTC, do ya know? That's so exciting! He's going to be so great!

Yesterday I was giving a blessing to a sick less active woman in the ward!! It was such a powerful blessing! It never fails to amaze me how much the Lord has to say through his Priesthood Holders!

The other night, Elder Prue, Juan and I did a really sweet FHE for one of the families in the Ward! It's a Sister and her 4 children, from age 12 and down! I went to the store and bought a $2 white polo shirt and took some sharpie pens over. Then, I read with them in Alma the story of Captain Moroni and the Title of Liberty. Then we all went crazy and rent the shirt into peices and wrote on them the things we would defend! Liberty! Religion! Family! Jesus! All the kids wrote down the things they would fight for- and one of the younger girls wrote "Los Elderes!" That's me! Awww it was so cool!

Oh and next week P-day will be on Tuesday, because we have a Meeting up in Scarsdale on Wednesday!

Baahahah we're going to another Yankee's game! President is going too! Haha a lot of missionaries go this time of year apparently!

OH! And Bishop Zamora in the Ward! Deseret called him and they want to do a special documentary segment on his family for part of a special they are making about the Temple! Bishop said he would try to pull some strings and get our district in part of it! Hahaha how cool would that be?!

So, funny story... We were leaving our apartment in the elevator and we asked a little old lady in with us how she was doing. She said "Fine, how about you?" I replied "I'm great!" She then got a slightly crazed look in her eyes and contorted her face and in a very creepy-witches-from-Macbeth-like way said "You wouldn't be great if you knew what I knew..." I nervously/awkwardly glanced at the other Elders in the elevator ... and turned back and said, "Oh... yeah? What do you know..?" Trying to sound truly inquisitive and trying not to crack up. She said "We're all going to... DIE! There's a big volcano under this blasted city and it's going to EXPLODE!! Then she cackled and hobbled out of the Elevator... Bahaha we all busted up laughing!! I wish I had it on video!! It was priceless!

OH right. So I bought some little Empenadas from a street vendor down in our area- we were very hungry, and you've never truly lived until you buy Hispanic food from some little Hispanis guys van-bodega. I saw on the menu everything that I thought sounded familiar... so I ordered a combination empenada. I took a first bite- it was good, but very odd and different tasting. I took another- and again it seemed completely new to me. I kinda peeked inside... and nearly threw up. (maybe I should have, considering that what I saw was now resting inside my stomach...) Turns out there is a delicacy in Ecuador called Cui- its like a rat/guinea pig thing, and lots of families cook it for special occasions. I was eating BABY CUI- and they were still full bodied in my meal!! Their little tails and all! AHHHH!! Bahaha!

Hermana Walker got transferred to Inwood in South Manhattan- so her singing will be missed so badly in the Olmstead ward! Luckily, she got special permission to come to the baptism of her investigator last Saturday, and her and I sang "El Espiritu de Dios" (Hymn 2) as our last final harrah!

We had an incredible first lesson the other day! I LOVE teaching the Restoration. It always amazes me. The Story of it is quite incredible- and for some just hearing the facts simply seems impossible. But when coupled with the Spirit- it's one of the most powerful experiences I've ever experienced. It's so funny- (well not funny funny, but funny), EVERY SINGLE TIME a missionary starts to talk about Joseph Smith's first vision- SOMETHING goes wrong. A telephone rings, the police come banging on the door, a child in the house goes feral and loses his mind- SOMETHING always always always goes wrong. It's actually, to me, a testimony in and of itself- the message we have to share is SO important- anything the Adversary can try to do to stop it he will do. Still, even with the hectic and annoying disturbances, the First Vision invites the spirit into the room SO strongly and It edifies everyone there. Every time I teach it, my OWN testimony gets strengthened- my Spirit shouts and says "Hey! I know that's true!"

I love my Mission with all my heart!! It's tough- but I'm doing just fine! Thank you for all your love and prayers for me out here!

Church is TRUE!

Be Safe, Be Happy, Be Strong!!

Always,

Elder Brandon Hellberg

Wednesday April 28, 2010

Let round 3 begin!!

BWONNNGG!! *big orchestra symbol*

Ahem.

SO this morning was...

DUM DUM DUM

TRANSFERS!!!

And finally I have a companion!! After 2 weeks of going solo (and crazy mind you) I finally have.. Elder Prue! From Orem, UT! He seems great! He's been out for 9 months, so we're both pretty new in the Mission-but we're gonna PWN i can tell. I've only been with him for about 2 hours but I love him already! He's been in the mission for 9 months! I'm SO happy to stay here in Olmstead! I'm not done serving here! I was relieved to stay :)

Quick story from Monday..

SO Elder Fox, Elder Bayard and I went down to my area to look up what i thought was a sweet street contact. So we go down there, all prepped and excited to start teaching this family i met on the Zone Blitz a week before. I'm leading us around my area looking for an apartment building, and after searching this one giant street to no avail, I discovered that we had been on the wrong street.... for nearly 25 minutes. FAIL. SO I redirected us to the correct street, and we continued looking for another half an hour- turns out the phone# and apartment# were FAKES. EPIC FAIL. I was very disappointed and feeling rather low, when I realized that in our wandering, we had come near a building of the home of an investigator that we were about to drop because she wasn't keeping any commits. I strongly felt the need to go back to the building, even though I knew she probably wouldn't be there. We went inside, climbed 4 flights of stairs, and knocked. We waited. We knocked again. We Waited again. Nothing. By this point I was very frustrated and felt not only sad and disappointed but felt embarrassed and dumb. We had what felt like wasted almost 2 hours in my area, with no success. We went back down the stairs and as we were exiting the building, we ran into a little Ecuadorian woman with a little girl and a massive laundry bag in a big cart. I offered to help and back up the stairs we went, Elder Bayard and I carrying the cart for this woman. We kinda talked to her on the way up to her 5th floor apartment, and then started talking to her about the church at the top. She told us she was actually baptized many years ago in a small branch in Ecuador! She told us that when she moved here to New York, she got married and couldn't find a church close to her apartment so she stopped coming. She told us that she recently got an unlimited metrocard and would love to start coming back to church!! As we were talking about this, her little girl ran over to a door for no apparent reason and started to knock- we all laughed and said "Look she's a little Missionary too!" As her mom pulled her back and told her not to knock on other's doors, the door opened, and when the Ecuadorian woman started to apologize to the lady that opened the door, we immediately started a contact with her. Pretty soon, us 3 Elders and the Ecuadorian woman were testifying and the lady in the door said she wanted us to come back and teach our "beautiful message" to her family! THEN (I know there's more, right?) on the way out of the building, we ran into the lady we went to go see originally- the lady we were going to drop. She came running up and said "Elders! Can you come see me tomorrow? I have so many questions!" She told us that she read the chapter in 3 Nephi 11 like we asked, but that she couldn't stop reading and is almost done with Moroni! Hahaha! So awesome! We left and I literally felt like laughing- I was so relieved, and felt silly for being so frustrated- THIS is the LORD'S work. I just need to be happy, do my best, and be obedient- and the Lord's got my back.

Yes Mariano got baptized! So sweet! He's so awesome! He's getting the Aaronic Priesthood this coming week and getting set apart as a Priest! Then him and I are going to bless the sacrament together (en Espanol) in 2 weeks! Woot!

I have some new pictures to send home soon! Of the Yankee game and baptisms and a bunch of stuff!

The weather here has been rainy recently- but I love it! The rain just kind of... i dunno, equalizes me. I feel right in the rain. Dad did always call me the family fish.. always in the water..

Sister Walker got transferred and we had a big (sad) party for her last night in the Ward. Her and I sang "You Can Change" from EFY 2009 and For Good from Wicked.. so sad! Haha she's like a wise older Sister to me (and most the other Elderes in the zone)- she'll be missed! Especially by ME becuase now I have nobody to trade off with playing the Organ at church! Dang it! Hahah!

Last week for Sacrament Meeting, the Young Women were in charge. It was SO powerful. All these young valiant Hermanas from the Bronx stood up and gave short talks and bore such strong testimonies. They were all wearing different colors- the Colors of the Young Woman Values! It was incredible- the power these young women have. I was so babied growing up in Utah, where EVERYONE is members- it's easier to keep values and standards when all your friends believe what you believe. But here in the Bronx... well you can imagine. The members here are SO faithful and SO close to the Savior- they'd have to be here- they are brilliantly shining lights amist a thickening darkness. The Chapel here in the Bronx is a safe-haven- literally. Spiritually and physically protected. It's so awesome to be a part of the Ward of Warriors here in the Bronx.

Oh man. SO i do have a terribly funny incident that happened to me this week... but I think the only thing that can adequately describe what happened is on my camera. Bwhahahaha so you'll have to wait until I send home my memory card!! Hehehe!

Well I'm off! Wish me luck- sorry this e-mail is so short! We had to use a different library today and we have really strict time-limits here with the computers! Love you all!
B happy B safe B strong!!

Church is TRUE!!

Always and Forever,

Elder Brandon Hellberg

Wow crazy week.

SO first let me continue with what happened from Elder Richardson going home...

After the Yankee Game (awesome) last week, we all (our district) went out to dinner with President Smith. It was great - a little pow-wow of thanks to Elder Richardson for his 2 years of selfless service. Afterwards, President and Sister Smith and Elder Richardson and I went back to the church for Elder Richardson's release interview. It was so bittersweet to see him go, and I have loved my time with and learned so much from him. I know he made it home safe, because Bishop Zamora from our Ward said to me a few days ago "So, Justin added me on Facebook." I said "Huh? Justin?" Then it hit me. Hahaha Justin Richardson is once again human! Love you man.

President told me that he trusted me with my area and that it would be hard for him to get a new companion for me until transfer day (two weeks from then, April 28th), but if I felt uncomfortable being in charge (and companionless) of my area he would get me one (after all, this is only my second cycle here). I told him I was good and had a plan! Muahaha!

So after Elder RIchardson left on Thursday morning, I officially went from Junior Companion to Solo Missionary! Scary! Haha! Not REALLY solo... I live with Elders Fox and Bayard, and for all-intensive-purposes we're in a trio, but every day after studies I get members from our ward to come down with me to my area and teach with me! It's so fun/nerve wracking. I was used to Elder Richardson doing the larger part of the talking, the introducing, the breaking-the-ice, and now it's up to me! At first it was terrifying- and very humbling. BUT- (a week and a day later) it has forced my Spanish and teaching and people skills all to improve rapidly. Which is great! :D Since I don't really have a companion, I've gotten to be companions with the Spirit- relying nearly completely on Him to help me when I'm struggling during a lesson or don't know what to do in my area. It's crazy. These past few planning sessions have been a trial without a companion- I'll go sit alone in my room, staring at my area book and planner, and feel SO overwhelmed- I want to scream or cry or throw my study lamp out the window!! ARG! But I just get on my knees and pray- and things surely and steadily work out. I get appointments, and find people to teach- and already from this last week I have 3 NEW investigators and 2 committed to BAPTISM!!! With the Companionship of the Spirit, it not only makes the work do-able, it makes it fun! I love teaching! I stumble over my Spanish sometimes and often I want to say something but don't know how in Spanish- but it doesn't matter- the Spirit testifies of the Truth of what I teach.

Okay so ya know that part of X-Men 2, when that crazy Omega-Level Mutant- William Stryker's son- is using his mutant powers to make the environment seem different for the people around him? Like when Professor X is in Cerebro V.2 and he thinks that he's helping that little girl that doesn't exist, but he's actually killing all the mutants? Ya know? I'm convinced that this would be one of the most helpful tools in Missionary work. Hahaha it's not how it sounds hear me out. Last night, we went to an appointment with a WAY cool hermana investigator that we are teaching very frequently. We were sitting there in the entryway of her apartment and there was CHAOS in every room in the house. Her sons were in the room next to us, with their XBOX 360 hooked up to these MASSIVE speakers that were shaking the entire apartment complex, the room on the other side had 4 or 5 teenage girls screaming and laughing and listening to music and there was a little girl in the kitchen screaming and banging things together. I've never felt so distracted during a lesson in my life!! HOW HANDY it would have been to have that mutant power and block our all the distractions around our investigator and us. hahaha! But this investigator is SO solid. She's incredible! We gave her 3 Nephi 11 to read, and in the two days between our visits, she read it 3 TIMES, took notes and wrote down 2 pages of questions for us to answer. Then after we got there, she had US ask HER questions- like give her a quiz on her reading! She has such a thorough understanding of the doctrine we present! She studies diligently the pamphlets and the reading assignments- ahh! She's awesome! She is excited to be baptized and she's hoping for this weekend or the next! :D

I had the immensely great opportunity of baptizing a young man last Sunday. His name is Mariano! He's 30, from Mexico! Oh mom he's so awesome! And when I baptized him it was so sweet and the Spirit was SO strong!! Elder Richardson and I have been teaching him for some time- and I know that Elder Richardson will be happy to know that he is Baptized and receiving the Holy Ghost this coming Sunday!

We went to the Temple yesterday- Elders Bayard, Fox, and the Sisters in the Zone and myself! Yes! Manhattan Temple yesterday! Early in the Morning! - It was incredible! It was my first time going through the Manhattan Temple! It's so crazy- you step out of this loud, fast-paced world into what seems like a completely different dimension! I love the Temple and the powerful Spirit you feel there! I haven't been able to go through since the MTC- and it was such a blessing to be able to go through!! :D

Oh and can you also tell Carlie that Im terribly SORRY but I wasn't able to write her a letter yesterday- we were in Manhattan all day and I can't write (don't want to be disobedient) unless it's Pday!! My Apologies!

We went and toured Manhattan! We went on a bakery tour with our very own Sister Wadsworth as our tour guide!! OH MY GOODNESS BEST COOKIES AND CUPCAKES I HAVE EVER HAD. Maaa, when I bring you and the fam to New York to show you around we HAVE to go to these bakeries. The. Best. Ever.

Tell Daddy and Conman and Sammz that I love them SO uber much and can't wait to talk to them on Mother's Day!! Loves!!

I'm SO BEYOND EXCITED to talk to you on Mother's day! I get so much time too!! :D And I'll get to call earlier in the week to confirm a time that we can talk!! Yes!! I'm so excited! Its for like... almost 2 hours! hahah!! We have the rest of the night after about 6 to break the time on the cell phone between me and my companion to talk to our families!! Hehehehehe Will all the family be there? Daddy? Sammerz? Conman? Carlie can be there!! :D She's been so supportive of me out here- each week she sends a sweet letter with funnies and her testimony. :) Haha! Cute Carlie :) I love that girl. Aw man. Tell her to send me the new version of Amazing Grace!! :D Love her!

When does Conman get out of school? Beginning of June? Did he try out for Madrigals!?!?! OH OH I’m praying that he makes it into Mads! That was such an amazing experience for me!! I know he’d LOVE it! Let me know ASAP if he makes it ya? Haha!! I hope I hope I hope!! How is Sam? Awww Sammerz ;) That girl! Love her. I pray for her and Kevin to work out – they are SO good for each other!! ;)

Oh Mom, Could you send me some (a lot) of benadryl? I'm having the worst luck with allergies here. Probably Benadryl, and Sudafed - That would be so great. Hahaha I saw the picture of you on your new bike!! So cute!! I love when you send me pictures!! Love them!! Oh I broke my camera :( The 80 dollar one we bought the morning before I went into the MTC? remember that one? I dropped it and it broke :( But i saved all the pictures! :) I have that Sony Camera in my room somewhere... could you send it and the charger?

I'm getting to try all these new Spanish foods and candies!! I love them! DAD! I actually get cravings for SPICY FOOD! Haha you'd be so proud of me. We went out to eat the other day and when the server asked what kind of salsa I wanted I proudly said "The hottest thing ya got!!" Hahahahahah Oh man I'm so strange :)

It's definitely Summer here in the Bronx! Open Fire hydrants, music blasting, ice cream stands on every corner, naked people running through the streets (oh heavens), singing and dancing in the streets... New York is ALIVE!!

Transfers are in 6 days, and then I'll actually have a companion! Woot!

I love this Gospel- I know with all my heart that Jesus is the Christ! I love this privilege I have to be out here serving Him!!

Love you all so much!

Please know how much I love and appreciate you all!

B safe! B happy! B strong!!

Always,

Elder Brandon Hellberg

Elder Richardson is going home. :(

April 14, 2010 Hey guys! :) I have some sad news :( After surgeries and IV's and much time in the hospital, President Smith decided (and the Authorities in Salt Lake) that it would be best to send Elder Richardson home to heal up there with his family. He is improving rapidly, but he won't be able to do any missionary work for weeks. PLUS he is scheduled to be released from Missionary Service on the 29th of April anyway- so they aren't cutting his mission too short - only a couple weeks. It's still sad- we've been packing all night and morning. :( Tonight we'll be going out to Dinner with President and Sister Smith for some final 'thank yous' and 'goodbyes' and then tomorrow morning Elder Richardson will be flying back home to Amarillo Texas. :( It's so bittersweet- I'm excited for him to see his family and take a well needed rest - but at the same time it's hard to see him go! He definitely left his footprints here in New York City and he will be missed!! On the brighter side of things, all the Elders in my apartment (Elders Richardson, Fox, Bayard and myself) are going to... A YANKEE GAME!! WOOT!! HA! At least Elder Richardson will go out with a bang! We're so excited! We have great seats and it's sunny and warm and it's gonna be GREAT!! (Nobody tell Elder Armknecht that I'm going- especially that we're sitting on the Yankee's side! hehehe) (No but you can tell him it'll be funny hehe) I'll take pictures and pretend all of you are here with me screaming! Woooot!!! We have another Baptism coming up! It's this coming Sunday! His name is Mariano and he's so awesome!!! It's so sad that Elder Richardson won't be here for it - Him and I have spent really good times with him, teaching him and getting him ready for baptism- but we're gonna take pictures and send them to him! I'm not sure what's going to happen with ME or my area for the next 2 weeks until transfers when I get a new companion!! I'm nervous! There are several things that COULD happen. I could get into a tri-panionship with a companionship here in my district and we could work BOTH their area AND my area, or I could get a NEW companion earlier than transfers! I'm so curious to know!! ahhh!! Thank you for all your love and support from back home- sorry time is a little short today- but I love you all and miss you!! This Church is true! I love this Work and the incredible opportunity I have to be a part of it! B safe B strong B happy!! Always, Elder Hellberg

Harry Potter CAN Save Souls. :)

Hey all!

Wow story time.
Ready?

SO. Last Sunday, April the 4th, Elder Richardson notices some minor leg pain and a little redness on his left upper thigh. Not thinking anything of it, he takes some ibuprofen and thinks it's nothing. Tuesday rolls around, and the pain has gotten exponentially worse, and the redness is spreading and getting darker. We decide to call the Mission Doctor, and he says to take 800mg of Ibuprofen and "walk it off." The next day, wednesday, Elder Richardson is in so much pain he can't walk- and the redness now takes up most of his thigh and it's visibly VERY swollen, with 2 large red bumps in the center of his leg, about the size of half dollars. We call Sister Smith, and she sets us up an appointment for the next day Thursday with a doctor pretty close to us in the Bronx at 11:45 AM. That night, Elder Richardson has a 102.7 fever, he's shaking, sweating, screaming, and the red bumps have turned dark purple. I called the Mission Doctor, and he told me to stay up with him and give him 800mg Ibuprofen every 3 hours, and 800mg acetominophen every OTHER 3 hours, and surround him in ice packs and if the fever got hotter, to put him in a cold bath. Luckily, with meds, ice packs and prayer, we broke the fever and were able to avoid the ER- for now. Our appointment draws nearer, and we take off to the doctor. We arrive and have to wait almost 2 hours to actually see the doctor. The doctor takes one look and says "you should have gone to the ER 3 days ago." Fail. After further investigation and some blood work, he THEN says "no, you should have gone to the ER 5 DAYS AGO." EPIC Fail. He was transferred (we walked... welcome to the Bronx) to the nearby hospital and they checked him in to the ER- where we waited for 4 hours to get an X-ray, ultrasound, and start flooding his bloodstream with antibiotics and percocet. The Diagnosis; Advanced-stage Cellulitis. Meanwhile, I called President Smith to inform him of the situation, and he and Sister Smith were down at the hospital in about an hour- where we ALL waited until about 9 PM last night to finally get him checked into a room in the hospital to stay for 48 more hours with intravenous antibiotics. It was all so draining and frustrating! Late last night, President Smith drove me home and now I'm temporary companions with Elders Fox and Bayard, my apartmentmates. Poor Elder Richardson! :( He was in so much pain! :( I felt so awful. But luckily, with treatment, time and (also prayer), he'll be back on his feet in a few days. HENCE the reason I'm e-mailing TODAY instead of yesterday!!

ANYWAY!
Our Zone Blitz was such an awesome experience!! We stood on the corner of Brook Avenue and half of us sang our hearts out and the other half contacted! It was so awesome- a little spiritually-charged corner of light in the middle of the Bronx. I loved it :)

I LOVED conference! It was so epic! As a Missionary, everything kinda hit me differently- I took 7 pages of notes! It was all great!

Missionary Moment-
The other day Elder Richardson and I were waiting at a bus stop when I noticed a woman- black, peircings, crazy hair- standing there with us, reading... HARRY POTTER 7. I saw the book... then looked at her. She looked at me, then both of us at her book- then back at each other. We both simultaneiously made this face like... I can't even describe it! Like..."Harry Potter addict? you too?" We both lit up and suddenly we were having this speedy fiery conversation about the 7th book and the 2 more movies to come out and Tonks and Lupin and poor Fred and Mrs Weasly's epic confrontation with Bellatrix LeStrange.... AW MAN!! This went on for about 10 minutes! Elder Richardson rolled his eyes at us- I should have PROBABLY directed the conversation towards more Gospel-related things... but it was HARRY!! Fail. The bus finally came and we got on, where I went to sit near the back with my companion, her near the front with all of her laundry. Suddenly it hit me- I always work in Spanish- all my pass-along cards, extra BOM's, pamphlets videos- everything I carry around with me is in Spanish, but this lady spoke English. It hit me that- that very morning, I had grabbed an English Book of Mormon which I planned on reading while Elder Richardson wrote his farewell paper to President Smith... and it was still in my backpack! I very VERY distinctly felt the prompting to give it to her. I grabbed a peice of paper and wrote on it "Go Harry Potter fans!!" Below that I told her to read and pray about this book and left the English Elder's number on the bottom. I ran to the front of the bus and Handed her the copy and said "Hey- You're a reader! Read this too! This one is even more epic- and I know that THIS one is TRUE." She looked up at me and said "I will!" We exchanged smiles and I went to the back of the bus to get off- I looked back up at her and she already had it open and was reading it!! I got off the bus and felt so awesome! :)

Hey all I gotta run- much to do! I promise more next week, I'm very limited on time this week!
Love you all!
B safe, B happy, B strong!!

Always and Always.
Elder Hellberg