Please excuse this overtly religious, long, and mostly un-mission-related blog entry from Eldrew’s Dad.
It has been a week of cascading nostalgia about Eldrew. It has been a week for me to ponder the some of the significance of Eldrew and his mission.
These feelings were triggered when we ‘de-junked’ the basement den. Leaning against the wall were guitars that Eldrew played before his mission. Seeing the guitars brought a flood of Andrew-related memories. Eldrew loves playing the guitar. Part of the rhythm and soul of our home were the sounds of Andrew singing and playing in one room or another. Each room had a different acoustic character and Andrew would choose a room to play in based on the musical mood he was in.
Playing the guitar has even been a part of Eldrew's mission. To his delight, Elder Bellomy discovered that he was allowed to play his guitar (with appropriate song choices) while on his mission. He found it very calming as he dealt with the stress of the new missionary transition. He and Elder Rios sang hymns to people they were teaching to Eldrew playing the guitar he had purchased. At one time, he even gave a few guitar lessons to the Bishop of a ward he was assigned to. However, the mission rules changed and Eldrew gave the guitar to someone in the ward.
This week's Eldrew nostalgia jumped a notch when Elizabeth (Eldrew’s older sister) found and posted a video of Eldrew playing and singing at a family get together in 2007. It was in the living room of his grandfather in up state New York.
Seeing the guitars against the wall made me think of Eldrew…seeing the video of Andrew playing made me think of our trip to New York…thinking of the trip to New York made me think of our family visit to the Sacred Grove...thinking of the Sacred Grove made me think of the significance of Eldrew's mission.
To Mormons, the 'Sacred Grove' is a most unique and hallowed place. Located near Palmyra, New York it is the place where God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith the first prophet of the restored Church of Jesus Christ. Without getting into the theology of it all, visiting the Sacred Grove can be a profound experience for a Latter Day Saint (Mormon).
Here is a photo my kids and I at the Grove. (I love my son-in-law Spencer as one of my kids.)
In 1980, I (Eldrew’s Dad) visited the Sacred Grove while I was on my mission. At the time, I was a fairly recent convert to Mormonism. I had been an atheist and joining the LDS Church as the only member of my family caused quite a sense of cultural shock. As much as I loved the Gospel and the Church, I often felt as if I was a stranger in a foreign land. Mormonism was a life’s journey that I was walking by myself. When I knelt and prayed in the quiet of the Grove, I had a profound sense of loneliness and had only faith in the Lord as to how my life would unfold.
Fast forward to 2007 when I visited the Sacred Grove again. This time, I had my entire family with me. The fruits, miracles, and joy of living the Gospel flooded into my mind and heart. Words cannot express what it meant to me to be with Andrew and the rest of my family in the Grove. It was one of the most profound experiences of my life.
To bring this nostalgia full circle…Eldrew’s mission is an extension of that Grove experience. Andrew’s guitar playing brings joy into my life. Eldrew, as a second generation Mormon on a mission have created very deep reflective feelings within me.
I am deeply touched by the faithfulness and service of Elder Bellomy as he works so hard on his mission. I am amazed at the growth, commitment, and faith of a young man who is giving up two years of his life to serve the Savior and to bring light and hope to the people he meets. If the people he teaches experience a fraction of the joy I have had in the Gospel, then his time has been more than profitably spent.
Isn’t it amazing the feelings that can come from seeing a couple of guitars leaning against the wall?
Postscript:
No discussion of guitar playing in the Bellomy household would be complete without a shout out to Adam Bellomy — Eldrew's older brother.
Adam was the first guitar player in the Bellomy family and was the direct influence that led to Eldrew learning to play. Adam's playing has been every bit as much of the rhythm and soul of our home as was Eldrew's. Adam came first and was more into amplified rock and roll. When the two boys got to playing...the foundations of our home shook to the core!
A good week for Elder Bellomy. He describes it as a week full of "stresses and blessin's."
For starters, he got letters from three members of the family. He is always excited to hear from us. Three in one week is a great week for him.
Anyone is welcome to send him postal mail. He'd love to hear from you.
His address is:
Elder Andrew Bellomy
Texas Houston South Mission
4627 Austin Pkwy
Sugar Land, TX 77479-2146
More blessings and lives touched.
Elder Mulitalo and Elder Bellomy continue to teach and touch lives. This week Eldrew filled us in on the baptism of Ansu and Elizabeth. Steven, a recent convert to the Church...and newly ordained Priest performed Elizabeth's baptism. Eldrew is excited to see Steven grow and push himself in the Gospel.
Eldrew also reports that this week they began to teach a man named Ezekiel who has prayed and received a confirmation of the truthfulness of the 'Book of Mormon' and is going to be baptized early next month.
The missionaries also visit and teach members of the faith who have lost their way and no longer associate with the Church. Elder Mulitalo and Bellomy taught the Rodriguez family this week and the Spirit was very strong and they were able to answer the questions of one of the daughters who is about Eldrew's sister's age. He describes it this way:
We taught the first lesson and the Spirit was just very strong and everyone was paying attention and interested and it was just like D&C 50. When we teach by the Spirit of Truth, it is received by the Spirit of Truth and both are edified and rejoice together. There was just understanding on both sides...I could feel the spirit as I testified and the really less active daughter said, "you answered so many of my questions, I totally understand now." It will be cool to see them come back to church.
He finishes by saying:
Everything is going great here, I don't have much else to write about other than I love ya'll and I'm excited to have eternity with ya'll. It's all about enduring to the end (and no, I don't mean the last year of my mission...but that too).
And, of course...Eldrew PROMISES to send some photos home. (Have we heard that before?)
No photos from Elder Bellomy. He promised again this week that he'd send some. He didn't come through. I guess he can't email photos. I'm tired of these posts NOT having any photos. So...I am making up a pretense to include a photo. Eldrew trivia!
Did you know that before his mission Eldrew was in the original 'High School Musical' movie as an extra in the bleachers in one of the scenes?
It is true. If you squint really hard in a scene with a crowd of students you can see Eldrew. He earned $50. The interesting part is that he was offered a bit part to be a basketball player on the opposing team in the basket ball scene. He turned them down because he didn't think he'd go a good job.
We got our weekly breath of fresh air from Elder Bellomy. He is doing well and is happy.
Hello home!
So, this week was a good one! The zone did great, my area did great, we had zone conference and moved our P-day to Tuesday so we could work on Labor day.
No weekly letter is complete without this promise:
I will get pictures and send pictures next week. Elder Bellomy Promise!
LOL...we will believe that when we see the photos.
One of Eldrews friends is serving a mission in Japan. Elder Turner is putting together a small photo album a way of 'introducing' themselves to people. I asked Eldrew if he thought this would be something he's like to do. He said:
Interesting about Mitch's mission. I've heard of that being done in Brazil and other foreign areas. I think it's because when you see a bunch of obedient, white kids they look like robots and you don't want them in your house. For us in Texas, everyone well knows us. In the more African parts we are called Church People or Preachers and in all the others we're the Mormons (angry and annoyed tone assumed and included). We strive hard to ask soul searching questions and teach with power and authority so they recognize us as servants of the Lord...I don't really care if they think I'm normal. ha ha
I guess that Elder Bellomy has been doing a little thinking about the time left on his mission and how he wants to serve.
I want you to look up a song and listen to it. It's an EFY song on 2005 track number 2. I think it's called "What will you do with the time that's left" It talks about life but I've been paralleling it to my mission. It's a great song...I've been thinking about it especially because 3 of the 4 district leaders [in the zone]are going home in 3 weeks. I love these great men...I couldn't help but cry when they bore their departing missionary testimonies in zone conference...No matter where we are in life or callings (or my mission), there is always time to make changes, repent and put it all on the altar. Like the song says, "What will you do with the time that's left? Will you give it all with no regrets?"
What will you do with the time that’s left
Will you live it all with no regret?
Will they say that you loved till your final breath?
What will you do with the time that’s left?
Oh, Hallelujah!
Oh, Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Amen
What will you do with the time that’s past?
Oh and all the pain that seems to last?
Can you give it to Jesus and not look back?
What will you do with the time that’s past?
Oh, Hallelujah!
Oh, Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Amen
What will He say when your time has come?
When He takes you into His arms of love?
With tears in His eyes will He say well done?
What will He say when your time has come?
Oh, Hallelujah!
Oh, Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
(Lord be present in all my ways,
help me follow You all my days oh Father God)
Amen
What will you do with the time that’s left?
Will you live it all with no regret
Will they say that you loved till your final breath?
What will you do with the time?
He finishes this week's letter with the following:
But, I wanna say I love you two very much and hope everything is going great. I love ya'll!
Busy boy:
In the letter he describes how busy and stressed he is at the beginning of each month. In addition to all the missionary work he is doing...and wants to accomplish...he has three additional activities this week — Zone Leader Council Meeting, Stake Correlation Meeting, and District Leader Council meeting. Of course there is a lot of planning and preparation for these meetings. Eldrew also got to pair up with Elder Peterson who is one of the missionaries who is an Assistant to the President for what is called an 'Exchange." This is in a different area and a different missionary than his usual area and companion. This switching up is a training opportunity for Eldrew.
Eldrew seems to be very happy and is taking the extra assignments in stride. He is very grateful for Elder Mulitalo who is working hard with Eldrew over the holiday to put in extra effort. Edrew reports that even with all the extra duties, he and Elder Mulitalo were able to reach all of their goals.
Tropical Storm Hermine:
I asked Elder Bellomy about the big storm...he reports that the mission car was damaged:
Tropical storm huh? Now that you mention it, our car was tipped over when we walked outside today...We thought it was vandals... We must have slept through the whole ordeal. ha ha jk.
(I don't think we will get a real storm report until next week.)
Passing the Sacrament:
He also had this to report on the progress of two recent converts and their progress in the Church...
This last Sunday was also a special one for me. Abraham and Steven, our recent converts, passed the Sacrament for the first time. There was some bumps along the way but they were happy with themselves after. It's helping them grow. The mission has seen me look at the Gospel in a whole new way. Before, the church as something you just do... and the doing was the end result. For example, you read to read, or pray to pray, come to church to come to church...I didn't see really why we do all those things. It's not just the doing, it's the testimony and knowledge we grow.
That 'year' thing:
I also asked him if now that he has been out on his mission a year if he needed anything...replacements...new shoes...etc. He commented on the whole year thing:
In response to the Year mark thing...That was weird. I was too busy for the fanfare. I've heard you're supposed to burn a shirt. That's a retarded thing to do, so I didn't do it. ha ha.
I date however I feel is more important than my one year anniversary of my departure is the date of September 6th--yesterday. In one year I will be stepping off a plane on the 6th of September ha ha. Weird.
Gratitude:
Besides the blessing of Eldrew serving a mission, our entire family has been blessed this year. So far, we are weathering the recession, Adam and Lindsay's wedding, Spencer graduating from grad school, Sarah turning 18, Sarah graduating from high school and going to college, our first grand child, and an empty nest! We mentioned to Eldrew all the blessings we are having and that we are praying for him and his health, safety, and success. He replied:
Well, I wanna let you all know that I love you. And I pray for ya'll as well.
The name of the game lately for me and I think for our family is gratitude. We have been blessed with so much and the Lord deserves the get the props! I love ya'll, bye!
(Did you catch the double "ya'll"? He really has down South for a year!)
It is good to see him happy, working hard, and positive. The Lord is watching over him and blessing him. More to come next week.
We did not hear from Eldrew yesterday. He usually writes home from a public library computer. Since yesterday was a holiday, we suspect that their prep day gets shifted and thus we get delayed emails.
So the only news so far this week is not from Elder Bellomy...but from the weather. Tropical Storm Hermine is coming ashore Southwest of Houston.
As you can see, Eldrew is no where near the center of the storm. Even so, they are predicting that the Houston area will get between 2" to 3" inches of rain in the next two days.
We'll see if he mentions the storm in the next email we get from him.
It was a year ago today that we marked the beginning of Eldrew's mission by dropping him off at the curb of the Missionary Training Center. That means that we have a year to go before we see our hero again. Drive By Drop off. It is hard to believe that this year has gone by so quickly.
Eldrew seems to be having a wonderful mission. From all accounts he is happy, learning, working hard, and growng as a man and as servant of the Lord.
If the year coming goes by as quickly as this past year has gone, we will be seeing Eldrew in no time at all.
We pray that he will continue to serve with honor, that he will be happy, and that he will be blessed by the Lord.
