Tuesday, October 6, 2009

In da hood! (Maple-hood.)

Texas Houston South Mission: Weekly update from Elder Bellomy.
Andrew is doing GREAT! If you know Andrew from his pre-mission days, you know that he is wise-cracker. (He was voted the funniest person in Viewmont High School his senior year.) His humor is a barometer of how he is feeling. Susan and I each read his email this week separate from each other. I asked Susan later how she thought Eldrew was doing…and she replied “Great!” I agreed. We both recognized the dead giveaway being that Eldrew’s trade-mark humor was back — in full force.

Door approaches:
I figure that I knocked on about 25,000 doors on my mission. Eldrew is just getting started and he feels like he is doing well.
"The work is going well and I am getting better at door approaches...I don't feel the extreme anxiety I did the first week each time I knock on a door...soooooo I think that's a good thing."
Funny, strange stuff:
Eldrew had a few experiences this week he found to be “very odd” and that he thought we might like to hear about.

“1. We delivered a Book of Mormon to this one individual and when he invited us into his room there was creepy writing all over the wall and the room was dim and he was really quiet and jumpy. I was thinking, "I hope I live to tell about this" ha ha ha but It all worked out, we taught the first lesson and lived to talk about it. (he hasn't called us back for lesson 2 though)
2. I was told to, "get out da 'hood"... apparently I'm in 'da hood'. Elder Rios told me this area is called Maplehood. (Kim’s note: The area is actually named ‘Maplewood.”) I take great delight in knowing that my mission won't only prepare me for the future by establishing good study habits and work ethic but it is also giving me gangster status that will ultimately help move my rap career along. ha ha
3. I talk to my drunken neighbor at nights and he rambles all the time. He said when he looks at Elder Rios and I he sees God. He's a good guy though, he can't read or write BUT he loves God. "And that's it brother, you gotta love big Daddy." (As he would say)
Mail news:
As mentioned in a previous post, the goof with the Zip Code may be slowing down the mail. Here is his sardonic comment about the empty mailbox:
"I hope all is well in C ville? I better be getting some mail this week...Elder Rios and I check it every night and I think he's astonished at the dramatic cynicism I've developed towards the mail. "that mail box is just a dark cube of failed dreams and false hopes."
 I sent Eldrew a hard copy of the blog so far…he seemed to like it. He also thinks that Elder Rios was cool with being an ‘internet celebrity.”

Miracle!
Miracles do occur on missions. For example, Eldrew now actually pays attention at General Conference…and enjoys it. I passed out at the following comments.
"Conference is about 100 times better while you're on your mission...Personal revelation was exploding while I was taking notes. Elder Holland got a vocal approval from all the missionaries around me...and I must admit, I was pumped up as well. Who dares deny this book of God. Elder Holland's my boy...we're now listening to all his past conference talks...he's the bees knees. All the talks were great though, and Elder Bednar's talk (which will surely be quoted) did bring me some guilt however...I wasn't always as 'diligent and concerned at home' as I could have been and as an official show of my repentance I would like to say I love you all and tell you all that I know that God lives. That I've felt his spirit testify of his Prophet's validity. The heavens are open and God speaks today. Joseph Smith saw God and His son and as a result our souls need not hunger. We can feast on the words of Christ and I know that word is the Book of Mormon. This is His ordained church and I promise you as you abide by commandments both modern and old and establish a firm faith in Jesus Christ we will find happiness now and salvation in the world to come. I know this because I've felt its truth and I feel it's truth. My stomach burns when I exclaim His Glorious message. I bear you this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."
Gaining weight.
Eldrew describes his mission diet plan…
"I'm still getting fat even though I'm on the "a lot at dinner diet". I invented that diet....you can't turn down food at dinner appointments so the only meals I can control are breakfast and lunch so I eat sparingly then and pig out at dinner ha ha"
As you can see, he is upbeat and seems to be devoting himself in the work. Thanks for all those who are supporting Elder Bellomy with their prayers and good wishes.

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