This week I'll call it "The Good, the Bad, and the Funny"

Susan asked me to share this entire email from Eldrew.

First, the Good:

To answer your questions about investigators: (not that anyone is counting...) I have been a part of 3 baptisms. Jimmy, Malonni, and Lacey. But the way it seems to go in missionary work is that you can't really claim any baptisms of your own.

The other day we got our mission newsletter, 'It Is Written', which contains articles from President and Sister Saylin and the Assistants, pictures of incoming and outgoing missionaries and baptismal statistics and names of individuals baptized. It was cool to see names of people whom I began or helped teach on the list. Oscar was going to be my first baptism...back in December on the 12th. He had some things to still work on so I never saw it happen. BUT he did. And the word was passed along that he is preparing for a mission! Edwin in my first area got baptized as well as a boy named Brooklyn.

Hopefully people I helped come unto Christ! Miranda moved to Virginia with her mother, she hasn't been baptized yet but she asked the sister missionaries if she could get baptized as soon as she got to her mothers. They told her yes...so...I'm confident she is going to be baptized. Currently we are working with a 24 year old man named Eric. He is going to get baptized this Saturday. He is overcoming word of wisdom problems and this week he is going through "detox". He took work of so he could sleep, throw up and feel miserable at home. Will you please pray for him this week that he can feel God's comfort and have the strength to endure. He is a very passionate young man and will go on a mission! ha ha :) I will send pictures of it home next week.

Some more good...My birthday. No breakfast in bed but I did get to wake up at 6:30 and exercise ha ha. My birthday present was given to me on Sunday. Lacey bore her testimony. I got all choked up and stuff. ha ha to feel the Spirit bear witness of what she said. She's thankful for the gift of the Holy Ghost. :)

Also, I feel great riding on my bike. I hope I stay on it my whole mission.

Also, today I read Alma 17...its amazing how diligence, faith, scripture study, pray, fasting, optimism increase our effectiveness in the Lord's work (Whether you're a missionary, a Sunday School teacher, on the High Council or a Laurel) Effective teaching, testimony bearing and even rock slinging and sword work! Ha


Second, the Bad.

There's none of that.

Finally, the Funny.

So here's an interesting encounter for you:

We were riding through a trailer park in the bottom part of our area when a car pulled up next to us and said, "Are you Jehovah's?" I replied, "No, Mormons!"

He said, "Nice, I'll pull over!"

So, he drove up a ways and pulled over and got out of his car. He was wearing black boots, black tight pants, and a black and white stripped shirt buttoned half way up with his chest exposed and over ten necklaces. His hands were covered in rings and his wrists with bracelets. On top of his head was a fedora hat covering is dreads that went halfway down his back. I laughed to myself as we rode up to him.

So! Tell me! What are you all about...maaaaan."

We told him, we're all about Jesus Christ and told him about the restoration. He was really interested but was really just interested in everything possible. He was "spiritual" and prayed to everything and anything people pray to...while he does yoga. He's studying to be a lawyer but the Man (American politics) is going to keep him from making a difference. He informed us early on in the conversation not to look up, because the airplanes and helicopters that were coincidentally flying above us weren't actually coincidently flying above us. It was the government keeping tabs on him. They are scared of him because he's going to do something for the people...probably a communist thing.

He also explained his ridiculous policy on guns which...I am afraid to say though it is stupid is kind of clever. He wants to take away everyone’s guns but not their arms. He will give everyone an arm...a sword. Because when everyone has a sword and no one has a gun, you'll think twice before you kill someone. His rhetorical scenario, "If I'm standing right there and you're standing over there and we both have guns are you going to think twice about shooting me faster than I shoot you? Probably not. Or if I'm standing right there and you're standing over there and I have a sword and you have a gun are you going to think twice about shooting me? No, because you have a gun! But if we both have swords you're going to think twice before you kill me because you may die first." ha ha ha ha hilarious. He told us to look at his face and remember it because it was going to be famous someday and then he was off.

Famous or infamous he will always be funny to me!

Your son,

Elder Andrew Paul Bellomy



Translation:

(Eldrew's Dad with a little Mormon-speak translation and commentary for those who may not understand all the LDS references.)

Andrew has never really spoken in detail about the people he has/is teaching who have accepted the restored Gospel and have been baptized. We were wondering and asked him in his weekly letter. The first part of his letter is sharing with us. Obviously, he is happy that he is teaching and people are listening to his preaching...but he is not boastful about it. (I will say that I am eternally grateful to the Mormons who introduced me to the Church and missionaries that taught me.)

Testimony meeting -- a once a month sacrament or communion meeting in the LDS Church where there is essentially an open microphone for members of the congregation to 'bear their testimony.' They can speak on any topic they want regarding their feelings and experiences in the Church. (One of my favorite meetings...very unscripted.)

Restoration -- Mormons believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its pure and authoratitve form was lost from the earth and that through a modern prophet, Jesus Christ has reestablished (restored) his Church. If  you are interested in the concept, you can read about it here: The Restoration of the Gospel

High Council -- This is essentially an executive board of Elders that assists in the administration of an LDS Stake. They are sort of like a board of Deacons in a traditional Christian denomination. A stake is an territorial/administrative unit of the Church made up of about 5-7 congregations. The closest equivilent is that of a diocese in the Episcipal or Catholic Church.

Laural -- a member of a woman's youth class aged 16-18. Eldrew's younger sister is a Laural.

gkb

Happy Birthday Elder Bellomy.

Hard to believe. Twenty years ago on April 6th, the future Elder Andrew Bellomy came into this world.

We love him and are very, very proud of the fine young man he has become.

Happy birthday young man.

On sharing the spiritual.

I (Elder Bellomy's dad) have been pondering for a while about the nature of this blog. So far, it has been mostly a travel log about his experiences. By design, we have not shared too much detail on the spiritual nature of his mission.

Elder Bellomy has mostly non-LDS relatives and many non-member friends. There is a concern on our part that an overly-religious blog may not be well received, understood, or appreciated by some. So, out of respect we keep the blog on the lighter side.

Yet, the whole purpose of a mission is to be and to serve the spiritual. At points along the way, we want to share the deeply religious nature of his devotion to the Savior and his service to him. Hopefully, we can do this in a manner that is respectful and sensitive.

I'd like to say that Elder Bellomy is undergoing what seems to be a life-changing spiritual journey. His desire to teach and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ is evident in every letter home. His love of the people he is teaching is deep and touching. Each week, he tells a few stories of the people he is teaching. The sweet invitations to accept the Gospel, follow the Savior, and be baptized in his name. Some of these stories are so personal we choose not to share them here...but they are very much the core and purpose of his mission.

LDS tradition has it that a missionary's home congregation places a plaque honoring a serving missionary in the lobby of the chapel. The plaque features a photo, a map of the mission, and the missionary's favorite passage of scripture. Elder Bellomy did not take care of this before he left. We have been nagging him for over six months to tell us what his favorite passage of scripture is. Finally, two weeks ago the sent home his favorite passage...

Doctrine and Covenants 130: 20 and 21 — There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated. And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.

Latter Day Saints love our Father in Heaven and our Savior Jesus Christ. Dedicated Latter Day Saints devote our lives to the Gospel. For the pure in heart, there is only a desire to serve the Lord. We believe that as we obey God, he blesses us in the work of the kingdom. For Elder Bellomy to choose this passage of scripture as representative if his mission is significant. (Being a former LDS missionary, my Daddy heart understands what Eldrew is feeling.) Andrew has fully devoted himself to serving the Lord. The blessings he counts on his mission is the opportunity to serve others and bring them the Gospel. When he obeys the commandments, the mission rules, the spirit of missionary work, has pure desires...the Lord promises to bless and consecrate his efforts. His love of this passage is a demonstration of his commitment to his mission.

I hope that those who visit and read this blog can imagine the great love that Elder Bellomy has for his Savior, his thankfulness for the atonement, and his desires to share the Gospel.
I also hope that we will be excused if we don't always share some of the deeper and more personally spiritual moments on this blog. Please understand that we intend to share with family, friends, and other visitors as much as we can...this blog may never quite capture the deep spiritual aspect of the experience Eldrew is having.

Please keep Eldrew in your hearts. If you are ever prompted with a desire to study Mormonism, nothing would make him happier. Please let us know if we can be of any assistance.

Was it something we wrote?

Elder Bellomy continues to thrive. He is happy and working hard.

In tune with the rules:
I think the big news from Eldrew's mission is that the rules allowing him to play the guitar have changed. They did so right after we shared some guitar stories. (Hmmmm...I hope it wasn't because of what we wrote.) Eldrew is bummed, but quite satisfied to follow the mission rules. He gave his guitar away to a member of the ward.

Andrew's desire to keep all the rules is sort of blowing his parents away. We visited a reception last week at which a video was shown of the brother of the Bride giving a short speech to honor his sister on her wedding day. The video was very short and obviously filmed in the lobby of the mission home or LDS chapel. We asked Eldrew if he'd consider making a similar video for his broher Adam's wedding. Eldrew declined and explained that they have been asked not to make videos. Gotta admire his desire to obey the rules! (Working hard, having faith, and obeying the rules were some of the counsel I gave him before he left on his mission.)

New Companion:
Eldrew's companion completed his mission and went home. He now has a new companion, Carlston from Lehi, Utah. That is about 45 minutes south of here. They seem to be getting along well.

Beautiful person:
Andrew had a run in with a drunk last week:

So, yesterday I almost got kissed by a drunk guy! He's like "You're beautiful"...and grabbed the back of my neck to pull me in. I think he was joking but it wasn't funny. Elder Carlston had a field day laughing about it ha ha...

Houston Temple:
Elder Bellomy also had a chance to attend the Houston Temple last week.

Visiting the temple with his Mission President was very meaningful for him. If I remember correctly, the temple is actually outside of the mission. I believe that the missionaries get to visit the temple a couple of times a year.

Working hard:
One of the things about being on a mission is how hard you can work...and be happy doing it. It seems that Eldrew is also experiencing that on his mission as well:

I'm worn out all the time and my eyes always hurt because I'm working hard and I wake up on time and never take naps. I'm probably gonna sleep in the first week I get back because there is no disobedience in it. I wake up with exactness in the name of the spirit. I can't afford to not have it with me. Also, I've been working out every morning and night, so I'm staying in shape and I'm not eating too much because the members never feed us. ha ha but I'm happy. There is a unique satisfaction in being beaten dead everyday. Knowing that you're doing what you're supposed to be doing and that the Lord is somewhat pleased with your efforts.

Teaching the word:
Every week, Eldrew mentions a few teaching, tracting, contacting and other missionary experiences. I have to admit that he is teaching a lot more people than I expected...and experienced on my mission. I sense that the missionary work is going well and that he is really into it. Due to the nature of this public blog, we have not gotten too much into the details of that aspect of his mission.

Upcoming entries:
In the near future, we are planning a hairstyle story. The ever changing world of Eldrew's hair! I (his dad) will also be commenting on how our blog is approaching his mission.

Please keep Eldrew in your thoughts and prayers. If  you get a few minutes, drop him a line.