The Davis County Crew - Elders Buttersworth, Breinholt, Ball and Taylor

The countdown is on to February 17, 2010!

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Our Christmas Call!


What a great Christmas! Our call from Jed yesterday was amazing. Both his Dad and I commented on how much he has changed even from Mother's Day. Here is a brief synopsis of our phone call that lasted about an hour.

He was at his Mission Presidents house so we called him there. We had a hard time getting through at first because he gave us the wrong number! He had called earlier to set everything up and gave me the number but I kept getting an answering machine in Portuguese. Then I looked on the caller ID from when he had called and used the number he had called from and that was it. It was way off - CRAZY! It was a very tense few minutes!

It was great to hear his voice he sounded so happy. The first thing he said was how HOT is was down there. We quickly told him that we had 8 degrees with the windchill of -23. He about died with that. He said he just knows he's going to get sick as soon as he gets home. He said he is well and has not been sick and that he's going to relish the heat while it lasts. He really has been blessed to not be sick his entire mission. (knock on wood) We talked about bringing a coat to the airport for him. He's going to give away quite a bit of his clothing before he comes home. He swapped Sister Myrrha for a suit. He left the one he bought at the thrift shop here in town for one she had. I said, "Is is white with black pinstripes?" (That's for you Huffakers!) He said it is brown with white pinstripes! Sounds just like a Jed suit.

We all said hello and when he heard Ben's voice he said, "What the man voice!" It was hilarious. Ben had this plan to not talk to him and surprise him at the airport but he just couldn't stand it and had to talk to his brother. Jed also commented on how much Annie's voice had changed. Wait until he sees her! YIKES! He said after that that he was looking forward to seeing everyone with TERROR!

We talked about his English this phone call as opposed to Mother's Day and it was definitely better this time having had American Companions for the past couple of transfers. We really noticed a difference.

He is bringing us all Haviana's. These are Brazilian flip flops. He got a new pair for Christmas and he loves them! He said he has a pair for a year and they are still going strong. So I'll send him sizes and we'll have new flip flops in February! Just in time for -30 below! ha ha! Oh yea I guess Oprah loves Haviana's at least that's what someone told him. We had never heard of them.

He had a great experience walking to the Presidents house yesterday for Christmas. He and his companion Elder Wilson were walking past a funeral home and a Sister that is a member called to them and told them that there was a man who had passed away and he was a member and she could not get a hold of any of the priesthood in the ward/branch to come and speak at his funeral. So Elder Breinholt and Elder Wilson went and gave a small message and said a prayer. He said it was such a spiritual experience.

In the evenings he and Elder Wilson go out and teach. He said that they are working with some great families right now. The inner city branch where they are is small had has new members. The area is really hard to find people to teach so they feel really blessed with the families that they have found. The church is so new down there that they need strong members to help them become stronger units. He talked about how he has learned how to be a good ward member when he gets home to strengthen the ward. He is concerned that some of his converts have gone inactive. He knows they have their agency but he worries that maybe he didn't teach them right. We could tell that it was a real concern for him.

Being in the office has given him a great appreciation for the Church and that they invest in technology to helps the work go forward.

He is so excited for everyone in the church to study Gospel Principles this year in Relief Society and Priesthood Meeting. He said all of us need to review the basics of the Gospel so it will be good for the new member as well as the life long members to study it the next 2 years.

He asked his Dad how being the Bishop is. Tracy said, "It's more that I ever thought it would be. In both the good and the bad things." Ben said it was hard on all of us because he's gone so much. Tracy is a great Bishop and we support him however we can.

He talked about Elder and Sister Lang of Lovell, WY. They recently went home and he loved them. We told him that the Comer's (Our former Stake President and his wife that left on their mission to NY NY South Mission about 6 weeks before Jed) returned and spoke on December 13th. They served a 2 year mission. Sister Comer was his Seminary Teacher and he was excited to hear about them.

He bore such a strong Testimony of how much he has loved his mission and how much he has changed because of it. He said that he really went on a mission relying on Faith, thinking that it was going to be a permanent p-day. He spent a lot of time with our missionaries here in Gillette before he went and he knew it would be hard work but nothing like it has been. He said that his mission is by far the hardest thing he has ever done. His knowledge of the Gospel has increased so much and he is so grateful for that. He said he has seen part of his Patriarchal Blessing be fulfilled.

We told him how blessed we feel because of his service and thanked him for going and serving an honorable mission. The blessings that have come our way have been innumerable. I told him that I pray everyday and thank my Heavenly Father for allowing us the privilege of supporting Jed on his mission and thanking Him for the blessings He has sent our family because of it.

He talked to Annie and told her not to become a teenager and to, "Snap out of it and remember that everything Mom and Dad tells you is right!" (one of those pay back times as a parent) Annie is a great no she's an AWESOME daughter, she is just a girl with the occasional teenage daughter mouth!

We talked about some of the things he's excited for. He really wants Ben to get into Rock Climbing with him. And he has discovered Slacklining which is basically walking a tight rope between trees. SCARY!

Monday will be his Christmas Activity for the Mission so they will have p-day on Tuesday. They will have a spiritual message and then food, games and presents. Tracy asked him if he has developed into a soccer player and he quickly said, "NO I do not like playing soccer!" He never has.

He will be transferred next week out of the office and he's excited for that. He thought that he and Elder Wilson would be staying together but it looks like they won't now. He's ok with with. He and Elder Wilson get along great and he's excited to see him when he gets home. He is from Salt Lake. There are a few Missionaries from Davis County that are there Elder Taylor from Sunset and Sister Quist and Elder Ball from Layton. They all want to have a Davis County reunion when they all get home.

He can't believe that his mission has gone by so fast. He asked us if it has gone by fast for us and of course the answer is, YES! It has gone by so fast. Everyone told me that the first year would go by fast but the second would be slow. NOPE! Both have flown by for me.

Well that's about it. I'm sure my notes were not complete but this has turned into a long post!
We love you all that keep up reading about Jed's Mission! Thanks and I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! We did!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

E AÍ COMPADRES!

My FAMILY...I AM GOING TO BE ONE YEAR OLDER!

Time is passing very rapidly... seeing as though I am now on my final Birthday/Christmas in the mission... has it passed rapidly for you guys too? I am totally freaking out here!

This week has been good... I have been transferring data to the new computers this week... that’s been exhilarating and very delightful.

Yesterday we had Zone Conference and it set in...I AM GOING HOME NEXT TRANSFER!

I got something to tell you guys... it was divine intervention that you guys can’t come...because I happen to be going home during Carnival... which means lots of wickedness... and that really isn't the best side of Brazil... so we’re safer like this.

I won't take too much time today seeing as though next week I will be talking to you. I don’t have a place yet to receive the call but you will probably be receiving information soon either by way of e-mail or something.

btw I have now passed to buying books. I decided I am going to bring culture with me not souvenirs... WOOT

ITS SOO HOT!

Tell the kids to be good and love the gospel...

Love you... and see you in a very short amount of time... SERIOUSLY THIS IS KILLING ME! 21 years old and finishing my mission... WHAT THE JUNK!?

tchau pau...

Elder Jed Breinholt

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Vinyl Discs make great Birthday Presents


Hey Fam,

This week has been a lot of work in the office. This is why... I have yet again done President and Sister Myrrha’s Christmas card, and I decided that I really like Photoshop. I think I already told you guys in my last e-mail but seriously I really like it. I’m totally thinking about being one of those graphic designers. I could just sit and use it all day.

But about the title, so I decided that I wanted some Brazilian records for my birthday. So I went and bought some, and decided that records are totally cooler than cds.

I really don’t know why I titled my last one “goose muffins”, when you said that I really didn’t know what you were talking about so I went to my sent file and sure enough I put that, whatever.

Elder Wilson and I will be staying in the office until the end of the transfer so that makes me happy. We were going to get out but the new church computers came in and that means transferring data from one to the other...woot! It is kinda frustrating but fun.

But my life is good, trying to do the work, and stop thinking about home... but yeah... 2 months.

So I’ve coped with the fact that you guys won’t be coming. Seeing as though nobodies coming, not missionaries, not nobody not no how! (Trivia: what’s that line from?) (I think this warrants a contest! The first two readers to post the correct answer will get a prize! And yes Angela, now it has cooled down I can send you yours. I've been waiting for Christmas when I make my homemade stuff. It will be on it's way soon!)

But all and all my life is good. I really got to send you guys pictures.

Talk to you all here in 2 weeks.

So that’s my life as the mission graphic designer.

LOVES YOU ALL!
Elder Jed Breinholt

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Goose Muffins?

WOW, this week has been a heck of a thrill ride. It’s been extremely fun with Elder Wilson. We had a scare this week that we weren’t going to be companions for the rest of my mission, but everything resolved itself yesterday when he talked to President and we’re back in business. WE ARE TIGHT! I’m pretty sure it will be like Dad & Dennis Massey, except we were actually companions HA HA HA!

So you totally made my day by saying that were getting Marshmallow Mateys. Cereal is expensive down here so that will be a blessing. CHRISTMAS IS GOING TO BE TOTALLY COOLER THIS YEAR! Me and Elder Wilson are going to make it as such.

We will be getting out of the office within the next week so I’ll keep you posted just know that it’s winding down fast and is super fun. Sorry it’s short, I just don’t got no cool news.

Love you all,


Elder Jed Breinholt

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

2 months, 2 weeks, 2 days!

Holy Cow! Can it really be! 2 months, 2 weeks and 2 days left! I don't know about the rest of you but the past 2 years have FLOWN by for me!

Here is an excerpt from Jed's current companion Elder Wilson's letter to his family this past week. I met Elder Wilson's mom MichaelAnn when she found Jed's blog last June. Elder Wilson had only been out a very short time, about a month I think, when she found it and asked some questions about sending packages.

"According to the information that i have received directly from President Myrrha that i could be transfered within a week to a different area, cause Elder Breinholt (my new companion who is basically the coolest elder on the mission) is like the techie guy and he is cleaning up the computers in the office and saving what we need to transfer to the new computers when they get here."

Yea we think he's pretty cool too!

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Thumbs up for turkey day with chicken(turkey is expensive)

Dear Family,

It’s good to know that you all miss me in unbelievable amounts. That makes me slightly happy. So turns out that I’m kinda sad about the visa thing, but what can you do.

So how was the pumpkin pie?! Disgusting I bet. The banana cream had to have been good... and the chocolate?!

Today for p-day we are going to have Thanksgiving...WOOT!(I’ll take pictures) but yeah...

Now for a story:

Once upon a time there was a missionary who only had had Brazilian companions. So there he was minding his own business when WHAM he got put with an American... and then the transfer after that WHAM another and WHAM another... so yeah this happens to be my third maybe even fourth American companion. I have had more American companions than some Brazilians in their mission. But it’s good like this when we go home I can see them.

So ELDER WILSON is probably the coolest companion and friend I’ve had in this mission and we’re totally rockin’ together.

We may not stay in the office much longer seeing as though Pres. wants me to finish in the field... so I’ll keep you posted.

But yeah we’re having some pretty neat experiences in the office. I have once again made the mission Christmas cards. This year they turned out better...so be on the lookout for an e-mail. We'll probably get them sent off these next few weeks.

I got the first birthday card from Ben (amongst the cards from the seminary students) and I “Will Run With Scissors.” Speaking of that did you know that when Chuck Norris runs with scissors other people get hurt?... fun fact...

So anyway... I want the man van in pristine condition when I return. Don't do any crazy stuff. But yeah I know its totally random but it’s what I gots...

Love you all and talk to you next week. Elder Wilson has a blog too... elderelio.blogspot.com check it out.

RUNNING WITH SCISSORS!

Love your friend, brother, son, general relative, grandson, and random missionary with a blog on the internet...
Elder Jed Breinholt

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Turkey day is a special day it's that day we get ready for Christmas(last call home!)

Hey Fam...

How are you all? I’m doing just fabulous today. Today is going to be short it was the last p-day of the transfer. Which I can give you some news... Elder Cody and I will not be staying together this next transfer, he will get his first Brazilian companion...YAY HIM!

And my next companion is...Drum Roll please... ELDER WILSON... I’m going to finish my mission with an American. That should be fun. I really don’t know why Pres. is doing it like this but what ev!

By the way today we had a barbeque with Pres. and Sis. Myrrha. They said that the visas may have been regulated try checking that I hope they have.

Ok so I’m working till the end... and things are going good. We had some really good lessons this week with some really good results. The cat family I told you about, well the daughter is in full throttle return to church mode... so that’s good. Sis Myrrah’s package got here... and as for the other package, that’s great... nothing else will be needed.

But yeah that’s my life...a great one... full of fun experiences for the next 3 months. It’s winding down quick. Just think that 2 years ago I was mentally preparing myself to work at the day after Thanksgiving sale, at Office Depot.

WEIRD... IT REALLY GOES BY FAST!!!!!

But I love you all and hope well for you.

Scripture of the week: 1 Nephi 17:3 It’s a good one

Elder Jed Breinholt

Pictures...

Attached files:

Me and a pineapple plant

The crew from p-day today

So that should compensate for the short e-mail today

Elder Jed Breinholt

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Why Does it always gotta rain!?


Hey Family...

This week has been full of challenges but it's been good.

Let me give y'all the down low and what my life has been like these past few weeks.

Yes it has been hot but now, due to the rain that always seems to fall on our p-day, it has started to cool down. This makes it rather difficult to take advantage of the day. Makes for a rather inconvenient day but what can you do. As for that cats, it's been an epidemic, a tragedy, hundreds of cats bursting into flames when they step out onto the street. Poor kitties good thing the rain has come to save them.

Speaking of that, we are trying to reactivate a family of cat people, they are half cat, half person, it’s pretty weird, I made a tuna casserole for them they loved it.

Ok totally just kidding, but we're working with a family that really likes cats. They actually have 15 in their house and 4 dogs. Now I know why you don't like pets Mom! Mother in her infinite wisdom! But it’s going good with them. We’ve had some very spiritual lessons with them, it’s been good.

Elder Hills name has been changed... to Elder Cody. I'll tell you why, here in the mission we already have an Elder Hill and so just like The Highlander, there can only be one, so his name was changed.

My allergies are out full fledged, what’s worse is that now when I take medicine my nose dries out and I get a nose bleed. I’ve decided to just bear with the allergies, my ancestors did it!

Tell Ben to stop doing weight lifting...NOW! If not he'll turn into a meat head, Crazy Ben! No but seriously, my little bro is gonna be ripped! I bet I can still take him!

Thanks for the updates but BTW WHEN DID OUR WARD GET SISTERS!!!!!!!!??!??!?!??!!?
That’s gotta be weird...

But life has been pretty hectic for me...

The office is also going well, currently I’m finishing up with re-editing and re-designing the mission orientation book, which has been going good. I’ve learned a lot about Microsoft Publisher and realized that I really like to use it. I think we have it, don’t we?

I also have been having a project to clean out the computers. Missionary computers are a mess, transfers come and stuff gets left on the computers, so it’s really stressful with that. I think we just need to implement inventory scans and what’s not in the inventory... DELETE. We have an inventory program I’m just going to see about using it.

Anyway so turns out that I’m also excited to come home so I can try out windows 7, seems to be really cool, it’s got a Mac OS feel to it, let’s just hope it’s more stable.

So that’s been my life, I hoped you all liked the picture from last week...it’s a keeper.

Loves yas!

tchau fam


Elder Jed Breinholt

p.s. The blackout didn’t come down this far!
But Paraguay was out like a light…literally…ha ha ha!

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Lots of falling water!

Dear Family...

This week has been pretty good. At the beginning of the week it was super hot and now it has cooled down. It is rainning a lot. Elder Hill went on exchanges with the zone leaders this week. I think it was really good for him, he hasn't had another area to compare to where we are working now, so now he does. It was good for him.

I'm super busy in the office, getting the mission orientation book taken care of. That has been some hard work. But it's given me a lot of practice with microsoft publisher. I like doing graphics design it's fun.

Today we will be moving to another house, a better house, one with a huge washing machine and dryer...WOOT! So that's what we spent the morning doing, taking apart beds and such.

What else...we're working right now with a kid named Rafael. He's good, he just needs to wake up on Sunday morning to go to church.

But I gotta go move. I hope you guys like the picture..so much water!

Love you all,

Talk to you all next Saturday!
Elder Jed Breinholt

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Hey Fam...

Happy P-day... Or Pumpkin day....

OK…So here's the DL. My P-day switched back to Saturday because we work Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the office. That means that we have P-day Saturdays but it’s alright.

This week has been alright. We went to an English school. That was good and we got to share the gospel with a lot of college kids, which was good. College kids generally have minds open to new ideas.

Anyway...we have had a lot of fun this week. Elder Hill and I are getting along swell. Elder Hill is speaking the language better and better every day. It’s a blast having an American companion. It’s great that I know after the mission I can see him.

I'm praying for you all every day. Especially about the trip so help me understand about this visa thing. Have you always had to go appear before the consulate?

By the way it’s super hot today, seriously sweltering heat that can fry a cat.
But yeah...my life is good...working hard trying to go strong until the end.

I love you all...and thanks for the family news.

BYU-I with the Eckers... SWEET!!!!! That’s gonna be bad to the bone...

PEACE

See you all next week.

With Love,

Your son in sweltering Brazilian weather
Elder Jed Breinholt

p.s. yes I do know Elder Griffin he’s cool.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Saturday p-day

Hello Family,

I guess you guys forgot about my Saturday p-day... (uhh...well no we didn't you told us it changed back to Monday!) That's alright. I'm sorry my e-mails have been so short lately, it's been real hectic and the internet just hasn't been doing what I want it to.

This week was kinda hard. We knocked a whole lot of doors and didn't have much success. I talked to President and he said we should try other things...so we are.

We went to some English schools to volunteer, which went really good. We will be starting to go there on Tuesdays. Should be fun and we should get some new investigators that way.

Things are going good. Elder Hill is the man! No, but seriously he's a really cool kid.

My life is super full. Working 3 days a week in the office and the other two finding new investigators. It's fun!

My mission is coming to an end and I can feel myself fighting against just giving up. But I'm praying and working and feeling happy. I really love my life as a missionary. I'm trying to be more and more obedient everyday.

I know its short. Things are great!

I would like some egg nog...one thing that I really miss. Send chocolate chips too. I would like to make chocolate chip pancakes. (I found some mix that you just add to milk for egg nog. I hope he'll like it.)

I love you all and would like to wish you all a Happy Halloween, because next p-day is Halloween. Don't forget to write or I'lll be sad.

Love you all

Elder Jed Breinholt

Monday, October 19, 2009

BURRO EU SOU!

BURRO EU SOU! This is a reference in Brazil to being stupid! It translates to "Donkey I Am"! ha ha!

Dear Family,

I am having the worst luck...The server times out and if I don't copy and paste my e-mail it gets deleted. I knew that the server got timed out but I tried to send it anyway...bad idea

So summarizing...

My companions name is Elder Cody Hill...from Orem, Utah. Swine flu cancelled church for a few weeks down here...the city did that...QUARANTINE! I'm praying for you guys to come down but I know it will be the Lords will...if you don't.

Sister Quist went home a week ago and I have seen Elder Sam Ball...good times.

I don't really need anything special for Christmas seeing that right after...I'll be home.

Pray for the people to be more receptive to the truth. That's about it. Sorry that I got the other one deleted.

And turns out I want to play wii. (Ben got Beatles Rock Band for the wii for his birthday and he wrote Jed and told him all about it.)

Love you all,
Elder Jed Breinholt

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Done in by the e-mail system!!

So today as the day went on and we didn't get an e-mail I got curious. I had not checked Jed's myldsmail.net account since Monday late afternoon so I checked it again and in his sent folder was the following e-mail that he sent last Monday 10/12.

My thoughts were right about him training one of the new missionaries. We should hear from him again on Monday.

It's short but I have been without time today

October 12, 2009

Dear Family,

So I didn’t write Saturday because I have been in São Borja for the past week helping out a missionary whose companion went home. I haven’t been in the same area but in the center of São Borja. Transfers came today and I found out that I’ll be training in the same area in Santa Maria… it should be good. I love you all and I’ll write you more next Monday. I'm back to Monday P-days…YAY!!!!

THUMBS UP FOR ALL YOU GUYS!

Elder Jed Breinholt

Saturday, October 10, 2009

hmmm....no e-mail today

No e-mail from Jed today so I'll update you all on our plans to go to Brazil in February to pick him up. We have received two very nice e-mails from President and Sister Myrrha. They have given us their approval and blessing to come and pick up Jed. We now have to climb the Visa mountain. Right now (as of September 1) the Brazilian Consulate in Los Angeles is requiring everyone who wants a Tourist Visa to appear personally. They are changing over computer systems. That may be different in December when we actually need to apply for our Visas but it's anyone's guess at this point. The kicker is that we need to get air travel arranged pretty soon. We have American Flyer Miles we want to use. So as of right now it looks as if we won't be traveling to Brazil. I did find out his release date this week it is February 16, 2010. It is a little early because he has to be out of Brazil by the 26th which is when his Visa expires.

So that is the latest. I hope we will hear from him next week. I'm almost wondering because he was in the office in a threesome, after his companion went home sick, that he might have gone back out this past week and so p-day changes back to Monday. They did get a lot of new missionaries this past week. We shall see!

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Sem Tempo (Translated is...Without Time!)

Wrote an e-mail but it got erased.

I don't have a lot of time this week, seeing as how I happen to be writing this e-mail from Presidents house. We are going to eat lunch here and we're going to go to Conference with him. It should be good.

I had to help them out a bit with their computer seeing as how I am the office tech. Totally just kidding but yeah I really am. Yesterday somebody asked me if I was an assistant and I said, "I was the Assistants to the Assistants and Secretary to the Secretaries." it was funny!

Ben is tall and uses saggy pants, silly Ben. (In response to a picture of Ben receiving his 1st class rank advancement in Scouts. And yes his pants looked a bit saggy! Bad Ben!!)

But anyway I love you all and hope you have an awesome Conference.

Elder Jed Breinholt

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

New Posts!

I've been out of town for a couple of Saturdays! Here are Jed's latest emails!

WHIBITS AND FLIMJIMS!

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2009

Dear Family,

We used the internet really early today because we’re going to climb a mountain. I'll take pictures for you all. So my p-day on Saturday has its positives and negatives...but overall it’s good.

There’s really not a lot of news to tell you all. On coming to get me Pres. said just send an e-mail to him telling him you want to pick me up, and after that contact church travel.

The office is going good. We are starting to get stuff ready for the changing of Mission Presidents. A LOT TO DO! Everything has to be registered that’s why we’re starting early because it’s a lot of stuff to do.

There’s a lot of new missionaries coming in this transfer, like 20! 18 Americans, it’s gonna be nuts! But it'll be good for the mission, open up a lot of areas. It will put 2 companionships in a lot of wards and branches. All three branches in Sao Borja will have 2 companionships. It’s not a really rare thing here in the mission, seeing that the areas are big and we're all on foot. It helps the unit a lot.

Office work is good. I decided I’m going to take a networking class when I get home, because it’s my weak point. I've been putting stuff on the network in the office. It’s been kinda hard. Elder Rossetti worked as a network specialist in a bank so he helps me.

But yeah I don’t really have all that much news today. Tonight we have a baptism, Juliana, a girl we’ve been teaching. It will be good. I love what I’m doing right now. Loving my area and loving my companions.

And I love you all...

PICTURES NEXT WEEK IF I GET AN E-MAIL FROM YOU ALL!

REMEMBER MY P-DAY IS SATURDAY!!!!!

Love you all

Bye
Elder Jed Breinholt

Saturday is a special day. It's the day that I have P-DAY!

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2009

Ok so here's what has been happening the last few weeks...

My Companion went home... he was super sick....

I'm now in the office which means Saturday p-days. I didn't write last week because there was no time. We went house hunting and had to clean ours. So I'm super sorry everybody.

The office is good...lots of work...but I like it. I actually feel accomplished at the end of the day. It's a lot easier to see what I've done. We still get to teach 3 hours every night and we're having really good success. We have a lot of good investigators. Here in the center it's a lot more difficult to knock doors, so we mainly work off of referrals. But I really like the branch like I said 2 weeks ago.

Stake Conference was good... There were a lot of people there...almost 1,000...(which is alot for Brazil (considering not many people have cars)) the Stake is going to split here this next year. That's cool!

i saw people from Sao Pedro...and Parque Pinhero.... it was good.

But I love you all and hope that you all are well.
Have fun on your cruise mom. (I did and that's why the posts are late)
I now know how dad feels at work. (Working with the computers in the office)
Lipe is a cool kid...the Bishops son in my last area. (He found Annie on Facebook)

But that's all I have for today. I hope Grandma gets better, and I hope that you all have a good Gaucho Day tomorrow! (state holiday) love you all!

Tchau from your Brazilian son....(That's right...I'm Brazilian)

Love you all!

Elder Jed Breinholt

Monday, September 14, 2009

P-day moves to Saturday!!

No e-mail today can only mean one thing...p-day has moved to Saturday. Check back Saturday for the latest installment of "A Mile in My Black Rockports"

Monday, September 7, 2009

-The Office-(insert theme song here)

Dear Family,

Turns out...today is a holiday here too! But not Labor Day...that’s in May!

But it happens to be the 7th of September...that’s Independence Day for Brazil! It’s a lot more toned down than the 4th of July in the United States. Usually there’s just a parade of the military...but not really anything super special. The thing that everyone is excited here lately about was Brazil winning over Argentina in the eliminations for the World Cup, 3 to 1. Everybody was really stoked. Today it was just an excuse for people to drink and not open businesses. It was super hard to find an internet cafe. But we finally found one. OK now a little bit about the office...

Technically right now I'm not a secretary, more of an assistant secretary. Usually we work in the office 2 times a week. This week I think that will change, you see my companion is sick and so he's trying to recover. It’s not going that well, so he'll most likely be going home this week. That will put me in a threesome with the secretaries and I’ll be working there every day. If my p-day changes to Saturday I’ll let you know! I’m really sad for Elder Bruno. He's a super good missionary that’s not being able to work well.

This branch (turning into a ward) is the best unit of the church I’ve been in since I got on the mission. It reminds me of our ward at home. There are a lot of really good leaders here, former Stake Presidents & even the 2nd counselor in the Mission Presidency is in our branch. I really like it and I learned a lot on Sunday.

Next Sunday is Stake Conference here too. It turns out that next Sunday I’ll catch my first Stake Conference since I got on the mission. Always during transfers I got transferred to places that had already had it. So it should be fun.

I like being in the city. Knocking doors is super hard here but we’re planning a lot of really good activities. By the way Dad: How do I do that Life Fair...you know the one we did in Layton with the 3 kingdoms...send me instructions...ideas etc.

The food is good like always. I guess I’m used to Brazilian cuisine. I want to see what it'll be like when I get home. I liked the last package. I liked the letter and liked the super long ties. For the first time, since I was 15 I think, I have to watch the length of the skinny end...they’re super long!

The apartment isn’t all that great. But we'll be moving soon I hope...were looking.

We had a baptism Saturday of a young man the other elders were working with. We really don’t know anyone, not even the members that well, with my companion being sick and all. But things will get better.

And now I’ll talk to you about you guys coming to pick me up. I didn’t know that the handbook said that. The thing about it is, I really wanted you guys to see what I’m seeing and experience what I’m experiencing in this beautiful country here in the mission. Pres. Myrrha doesn't have any problem with parents to come and pick us up. But I can talk to him Wednesday. For me, I want you guys to meet these marvelous people I’ve met. But I understand the logic.

So that’s my life right now...trying ever more to be obedient...and loving and relishing every minute of my mission!!!!

Love you all!

It’s raining & hailing super hard... I’m scared to go outside.

I'll talk to you all next week...
Elder Jed Breinholt


Elder Bruno eating my cheeseburger cd case

Me and Rodrigo a member from another ward that makes a killer Brazilian burger.

Monday, August 31, 2009

Transfers...

Dear Family...

So transfers came and I happen to be moving areas, and companions. My new companion is Elder Bruno...and I'm going to the office. I really don't know why, it came as a shock to me, but it's gonna be good I'm really excited.

This week we had a lot of success finding families. It was good...but now I'm leaving that area. Illogical...but whatever...it's inspiration.

Turns out everybody is getting too old at home...and should stop growing up! This is in response to Annie starting High School and Ben starting Jr. High tomorrow!

But I don't have a lot of time today...I need to pack...and write President.

But I love you all,
Elder Jed Breinholt

Monday, August 24, 2009

p.s. TELL GRANDMA I LOVE HER TOO!

Hey Family,

I’m doing good! I'm not going to send pictures this week because of slow internet. I guess I’ll answer the questions and tell you that I really liked your e-mail. It’s good to know everybody is good. I taught Gospel Principles yesterday...it was good...at least it wasn’t Gospel Doctrine.

I'll answer the questions:

How is your companionship? Its going alright I guess. It has its ups and downs...transfers are this week and I’ll be getting a new companion...so let’s see how it goes. I'm getting a new companion because Elder Bernardo has been here for 6 months and it's time for him to spread his wings and fly!

How is your teaching pool? We’re teaching a lot of really good people...some have a lot more potential than others but over all they're good.

How do you like being in the big city? good and bad...Santa Maria isn’t that big...but it’s the biggest city in the mission. The areas are really big and a lot of walking must be done. But I like it. The people seem to be more open in cities than outside the cities.

How is the ward? Are the members helpful? The ward is really good...the members help a lot. I don’t really know how to explain it. The wards are different than in the United States, but it’s fun.

How's the weather? Is it warming up? The weather is definitely warming up. Which is really good...the only problem is that it'll get hot this summer.

Anyway, my package got here, so don’t worry. I have a lot of pictures to send you guys so I’ll try to find a better internet place next week...

I love you all and talk to you next week!
Elder Jed Breinholt
p.s. TELL GRANDMA I LOVE HER TOO!

Here is Jed's Grandma as a missionary in the Northwestern States Mission 1946-1947

We all think that Annie looks like her Grandma. What do you think?


Monday, August 17, 2009

Book of Mormon Challenge!

I'm gonna do it in Portuguese! It's gonna be sweet!
This is Jed's response to the challenge that was issued to our ward yesterday by our Bishop. Start today August 17 and read 2 chapters a day in the Book of Mormon and you'll finish by
Christmas with a few days to spare. We hope you'll join us!

Family

This week has been really good...

Last night we had a fireside with President and Sister Myrrha it was really good. President talked about how much we need the members, and how when we work together we'll have a much brighter future...and a lot more growth. They also talked about their families and how the church has affected them. Sister Myrrha’s parents converted but Presidents never have. He’s the only one that’s a member. Their stories are completely different.

So the fireside was really good. I dressed up like Noah and we got references...or "invitations to enter the ark". Over all it was really good...send you pictures...later.

Transfers are coming here pretty soon. This transfer has gone by really fast...and the fact that the Sister that went to the CTM with me is going home...makes me feel old.

Brodie Rice has come home...wow...that also makes me feel old.

When is Elder Eck gonna visit?

26th Anniversary eh? Ok now I feel super old! Because I remember one time when you guys had your 15th anniversary! Weird!

For my next package I don’t really have any ideas right now but I’ll keep you informed...Ho Ho’s would be good.

Love you all ,

Elder Jed Breinholt

Monday, August 10, 2009

Doug the Duck!

Dearest Family,

Today will be kind of short but I'll send some pictures to compensate. This week has been super good! We had exchanges with the Zone Leaders and it was really good we found a lot of people that want to get baptized. It rained a lot this week from Friday 'till this morning straight it was very frustrating. Nothing dried.

But it's been super, some challenges as district leader but overall my life is great! I don't really know what to write this week no signs of the package yet. But here in Santa Maria I'm getting mail or something every week just not the package. I need to write more I know but I don't have a lot to say this week. I love you all and I'll talk to you next week.

Enjoy the pictures of:


Me with Elder Killpack(my beloved ZL)


There was a little kid that wanted to take a picture he did this on his own *wink*

Elder Jed Breinholt

The picture of Jed with the duck cracked Abi and I up! He has always wanted a pet duck named Doug! So funny!

Monday, August 3, 2009

Fama Bam Bam Bam...

This was e-mail #1 this morning.

Dear Family,
I'll write later...I have to come back to the internet place later. I'll send pictures...and a super long e-mail

Love you all,

Elder Jed Breinholt


This was e-mail #2 this afternoon.


Dear Family,

The internet is super bogged down this afternoon where I’m using it so forgive me but I didn’t get to look at all the pictures 4MB each one doesn’t download fast enough next time you can send me them smaller. But thanks for the pictures! Just leave them on my account and I’ll look at them all next week.

So this week has been alright. We haven’t been super successful but it’s been good. Like I told you last week I think, we live with the zone leaders Elder Killpack and Elder de Paula. We work in the same ward and this next week we’re going to have exchanges, it should be good Elder Killpack is a good guy, Elder de Paula too.

I definitely want you guys to pick me up! So start making plans to do that!!!! You guys will love Brazil! So you can put it on your agenda for next February get away from the cold weather of Wyoming and come to the Southern Hemisphere! Btw I totally get to see the Southern Cross every night! I’ll try to take a picture for you guys.

When I got your e-mail this morning it made me happy knowing that everybody is good. Things are going really good, just have more responsibility with the whole district leader thing, and a lot more headache, but blessings come. I love you all and hope that you live up to the blessings Heavenly Father has in store for you all!

By the way this e-mail is 282 words long. If you want more you can tell me maybe I’ll just start sending snail mail. Pictures next week…internet slow=no go for pictures.

Love you all!

Elder Jed Breinholt

Monday, July 27, 2009

Elder Breinholt Calling

Dear Breinholt Family,

We are pleased to inform you of the great progress that your son has made in the
past few months with us, so much that the Lord has chosen to call him to be a District
Leader.

The responsibilities of a district leader are to train, supervise, motivate, and inspire
the missionaries in his district. He has been working very hard and is an example to
the other missionaries. We expect him to also continue with his own fine proselyting
efforts. Please encourage him to continue to work hard.

The Lord is very pleased with your son. We know that through his diligent efforts,
his influence will greatly enrich the lives of each member in his district. All the
missionaries in his district are working diligently to help build the Kingdom of our Father
in Heaven.

May the Lord continue to bless you and your son through his constant efforts, is our
Sincerely,

President Myrrha

Sorry but this one will be short too :(

Dear Family...

It’s 5:39 and p-day will be over at six, so I have to write a short note. Really it was a planning error. This morning we decided to clean our house...it was super messy...now it’s less messy.

So you already know that I got called District Leader...yeah...its super stressful. My district happens to include our housemates...the ZLs and a companionship of sisters. But I know the Lord will make me able.

My companion is the coolest companion I’ve had to date...Elder Bernardo...he speaks English pretty well...and he's learning Hebrew. He is from Sao Paulo and looks Jewish so I call him my Israeli Assassin. He’s the man!

The ward is good I guess. Yesterday was really cold so not many people came to church...it was kinda sad... but we'll get it back going.

I love you all and I swear that I’ll write a HUGE LETTER NEXT WEEK! (with Pictures)

Sorry I gotta go...but you gotta be obedient eh?!?!

I love you all, and pray for you every day!

Elder Jed Breinholt

Friday, July 24, 2009

Fam...

Today will be short...due to the fact that I will be getting transferred to Santa Maria and I have a ton of stuff to pack.

My new companion will be Elder Bernardo. He has about 4 months on the mission. It will be a good experience for me...working in my first ward...since I got on the mission.

I will miss this branch...it’s a good branch...the members are really nice. But I love you all and I'll talk to you next week.

btw i got a dvd together...lost some stuff...due to corruption of the data...but I’ll send it.

Love you all!

Elder Jed Breinholt

I spent the week at Girls Camp this week so I'm late posting again! The thing I like about him being in Santa Maria is that he can get his packages sooner! YEA!

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Sorry it's a late post...

Dear Family,

This week has been good...weve been having some on and off success. This whole transfer has been like that...transfers are coming up this next week, so we'll see what happens. This week the letter is going to be a lot shorter because I don't have a lot of time. President cut time down to 1 hour. So I don't have a lot of time to do anything. But I love you all and I am alive.


Elder Jed Breinholt

Sorry about the late post I was in DC all week helping Elisabeth and Bobby move into their new apartment. We will all be at Girls Camp and Boy Scout Camp next week so it will be a late post this next week too. I'm not even sure when I'll get to read his letter.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Family...

Hey Family!

This is your long lost rice and beaned son!

This week has been super good, I've been really happy this whole week. I dont know why it' s just been a really good week I guess. We had zone conference.

Got the packages. Thank you! I really like the shoes thank you. But I do have one question what's with the organic oatmeal?! No but it's good I just got a little confused as to why it's organic. The pants fit great and I like them. The Preach My Gospel is great and so is the Gospel Art Book. Great helps. But I now know that Ben likes monkeys and his handwriting is horrible! Just kidding.

The other package got here too so I'll get that sent on here soon! (A Portuguese Hymn Book with their name on it and Gospel Art Book for the dos Santos family in Quarai)

But life is really good. Jose was baptized with water and with the Holy Ghost. Good kid!

We are slowly have more and more successes here in Sao Borja. It's going good almost all of our investigators are coming from referrals its good! Really good!! Transfers are here in 2 weeks lets see what happens but I think that Ill stay!

But thats it.

Love you all!

Elder Jed Breinholt

The organic oatmeal was just a box of the different flavored packets that I bought at Costco. I tried to think of everything warm to send him. Hot chocolate, hot cider & hot oatmeal! I sent him a new Preach My Gospel in Portuguese. I took it and had the covers laminated with hard plastic then they put the spiral binding back on. He did this to his English one before he left so he asked me to do it to that one too. They are in and out of his backpack so this helps the covers last longer. I also did it to the new Gospel Art Book and sent him one of those too. We took sticky notes and put notes throughout his Preach My Gospel book I guess Ben put one in that said, "I like monkeys". He (Ben) is such a 12 year old!

As a side note on the package information, I sent it just Priority Mail not Global Express and it got there just fine. It was cheaper but I couldn't track it so it was a little scary for me. But all is well he got it just fine.


Wednesday, July 1, 2009

It's about time to give something away!!!

Reading the last post carefully can you find the line of a song? First comment with the correct answer wins! Chocolate of course!!

Monday, June 29, 2009

Good Times!

First off...Dan if you are still checking in and reading this blog. Elder Breinholt talked to Alfonso yesterday at church. He's doing good! His sister Fernanda did move away and is married.

This week has been super good...taught a lot and found some really good people.

Jose is progressing and will be baptized Saturday. It has been really good to teach him. It's a good feeling to find people prepared! Also Natielle the sister of Joao Batista should be baptized in 2 weeks...

This week we had 93 people in Sacrament Meeting! It is going good...gotta keep the rhythm going! It's good and getting better all the time. But I love you all and talk to you next week!

Elder Jed Breinholt

Fun morning for us! We were on when Jed was on so we e-mailed back and forth for a bit. He talked to Annie and Ben and told Abi if she doesn't write him next week he's going to send her an internet punch! He's cold but well and happy. I was worried he was sick but he says he hasn't been "sick sick" his whole mission. He's not felt well a couple of times, but never been really ill. He definately called it a blessing. He told me I wouldn't like how long his letter was and he was right but I guess we made up for it being able to "chat" a bit.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

WOW!

Dear family, this week has been especially good,

I finally started progressing again! It's awesome! It's a good feeling to start having success again...this week has been full of some good experiences... but I'll answer the questions and then tell you some other stuff...

1. Companion - how's it going? its going pretty good i guess...up and downs... but over all its going good...

2. Weather - Are you staying warm? every now and again...ok just kidding, yes i am staying warm. today is really rainy and i forgot my umbrella...so im wet...

3. Testimony - How has it grown and changed this transfer? i have found that the more obedient i am the more power i have to do things...to be even more obedient...its a good thing

4. Father's Day - was yesterday. FYI! i didn't even know! weird huh?! fathers day is in august down here...so i dont know about anything...but happy fathers day dad!

5. Investigators - How are they progressing? we have some investigators that are progressing rather nicely...one is jos(joseph) he's in the millitary and was a refferal from our branch mission leader...good kid...came to church this week

6. Branch Members - How do they do feeding you? good...we have rice and beans almost every day!

but i love you all and thanks for the news...

Elder Jed Breinholt

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Mom & Pop

Dear Fam...

It's getting really cold here, my joints hurt. This week has been pretty good.

It seems I have hit a pleateu in my quest for betterment as a missionary. That's been the biggest struggle this week, trying to be better and not progressing as fast as i have been. But I'm trying...and praying.

It's been good. We're having really good luck getting the youth of the branch more excited about missionary work, and living their standards.

I've been excited for Dad and his new calling, has he called counselors yet? I'm praying for him.

Anyway I know it's short...but i love you all and hope that you're all good.

Love you all,

Elder Jed Breinholt

Monday, June 8, 2009

It's cold in Wyoming too!

Dear Family,

This week has been super cold... but relatively good.

Today was transfers and I will be staying in Sao Borja with Elder Marinho but it should be good. So turns out I burned a DVD with all my photos from the mission on it and now I’m having trouble getting the photos off...to burn to another cd or something....it kinda makes me mad...but I’m trying to get them off! I need to solve this photo problem...so I don't lose all my mission! (in photos)

The package sounds great...remember that you can send it flat rate...I’ll get it. Remember to laminate the covers of the Gospel Art Book too! (I’ll carry it around in my backpack so it’s gotta be sturdy)

We don’t have many investigators...we need to find new ones.

We don’t have a set list of exchanges but the members help a lot here in Passo....

I love you all and will talk to you later!

Elder Jed Breinholt

Monday, June 1, 2009

ANOTHER PAIR OF SMART WOOL SOCKS

Dear Family,

This week has been super cold…especially yesterday, super freezing. But this week was really good.

I was excited to here about dads new calling…Bishop Pai (that’s dad in Portuguese (it’s pronounced like pie)) but yeah it'll be good. Now is the chance to get the ward excited about missionary work. But first get excited as a family. Make sure you keep in contact with the missionaries. It's always a good thing when the Bishop is your friend as a missionary…it helps a lot!

I have some stuff to send home. I'll try to get a box put together. Question…can you put more hand warmers in a box? (It’s soo cold) And I’ve forgotten to tell you but you can definitely start to send stuff flat rate…its not a big deal…it sits in the office for a long time anyway…and plus you can send a lot more for the same price your paying now. Another pair of pants would be good… dark…I’ve just worn through my pants…more than a year on the mission! SEE TITLE FOR ANOTHER THING I NEED!

But yeah for Annie: GO AND HAVE FUN! And remember...do not get an efy boyfriend...NO GOOD! It should be good for you Annie, and who knows, next summer when you go up I’ll be there! Obey the rules and listen to the talks and make it one of the most spiritual weeks you’ve ever had!

But that’s about all… have fun everyone…and never forget to GIVE THE MISSIONARIES FOOD/REFERALS! That now is the Breinholt family slogan…I decided just now…I made an executive decision!

Love you all and have a good week…and send me a picture of the new chapel!

Elder Jed Breinholt
Here are a couple of pictures he sent this week. They are both from Quarai his last area.

As you can read in this post Tracy was called as the new Bishop in our ward. He will do a great job. He's overwhelmed right now but as soon as the ward is organized with callings (we lost about 1/3 of our ward to the boudary changes) he'll feel better I'm sure. This means that my time as Relief Society President will come to an end soon so a new calling for me is on the horizon.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Thumbs Up Everyone!

Dear Family...

The Baptism was great! Really special.

So this week has been good. Filled with some good experiences. It was Zone Conference this week which was a good experience. We talked a lot about faith...overall it was a very edifying conference.

Yeah thanks for the thumbs up everyone...I’m glad I could be the inspiration for your Splash Mountain picture.

I would like something else for my package...well Sister Laing wants it really...maple extract...so just throw it in. I need another pair of pants...next package...dark! Look for brown shoes for me. I couldn’t find anything I liked. Preferably like my docs. But they don’t have to be docs. I don’t use brown shoes that much.

I may have already told you this but we have microwaves now...it’s good... it speeds things up a lot.

Sunday I spoke in Sacrament Meeting. I spoke a lot about Henry B. Eyring's talk from April 2003 it’s a really good talk, and Elder Perry’s talk from last conference...read them...they will help.

But that’s about it...love you all and hope you have a good Memorial Day...

Love you all
Elder Jed Breinholt

Thursday, May 21, 2009

So here's one for Jed!

Why the thumbs up and silly grin in EVERY picture?!?

The family on Splash Mountain at Disneyland!

This one's for you Jed!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

It´s all Backwards!

Family,

This week has been awesome. First off...broke out my winter clothes in I don´t know how long! it was a very gratifying experience. It's been cold this week...SWEATER WEATHER! I bought a new sweater, it's pretty cool. But we've had some really good experiences...Leotina (one of our investigators)quit smoking! We had a family home evening and she invited our other investigator João Batista to be baptized on the same day as her the 23rd(this Saturday)it should be good.

The work is really going good its moving forward! But i guess it'll always be like that...moving forward. That makes me excited about the new ward! It´ll be good! It means Gillette is growing! The Stake will split soon...I'm sure of it!

This week will be Zone Conference. It should be good. But that's all I got today.
I love you all and talk to you all next week.

Elder Jed Breinholt

Sorry the post is late this week. Thanks to my "Tech Support Guy" my computer is up and running again. Also thanks to a new power supply and a faster hard drive! YEA! We are having some changes here in Gillette. Three Wards will be divided into Four Wards at a meeting next Wednesday the 27th it's exciting and sad knowing that our ward will be changing in some way. I love our ward!

Monday, May 11, 2009

Every little thing is gonna be alright now!

It was really good to talk to you all last night too!
But yeah...i don't really have a ton to write today but...
This week was good...everything went pretty good...
I'm really liking São Borja...it's going really good...
Thats not good to hear about the computer...it makes me sad :(  but it'll be alright...
(We came home to a dead computer.  I'm using Abi's Mac right now)

I really enjoyed talking to you all last night...3rd call of the mission down...now comes the last one!
Give my love to everyone in the ward and stuff.

I love you all!
Elder Jed Breinholt


We have returned home from Elisabeth's Graduation from Weber State Dental Hygiene Program and Bobby from the University of Utah in Political Science, a quick trip to Disneyland and Andy and Jessi's Wedding!  It was a great trip! 
We missed posting last week but Jed's letter was short and sweet as usual!  Our call with him yesterday was fantastic.  He sounds so happy and we are so proud of him.  He loves the new area.  He says the members are keeping them busy with referrals so he told us, "give the missionaries referrals!"  We aren't so good at that.  He won't be going into Argentina because he's American and needs a Visa.  Uruguay is very relaxed, Argentina is not.  We talked about going down to Brazil to pick him up.  He wants us to come and we want to go but it will all depend on what happens with Tracy's company in the next few months.  We also talked about BYU-I.  He is going there after he gets home.  He was so funny he asked us to see if they have an English class for RM's.  ha ha!   His English is very halting and it was difficult for him to talk to us.  He did great, he just switched things around a bit and couldn't remember English words.  When he made a mistake he knew it, but he would just start laughing and one of us would correct him while we were laughing with him!  

What a great couple of weeks!  Total payday's for Tracy and I.  Elisabeth and Bobby graduating from college and talking to Jed. He only has a little over 9 months left (has it gone fast for everyone else because I feel like the last year and a half have been going at light speed!) in the mission field.  We are so proud of all three of them.


Monday, April 27, 2009

THANK YOU ELDER LEE!

I was so excited to hear that Jed was going to Sao Borja that I e-mailed Elder Lee's Mom Lynn this morning first thing and she e-mailed Matt about Jed's new area and this is what he wrote!

It is really flat here maybe one of the flattest areas in the mission. So that is nice. We have a really nice chapel that is air conditioned. It is kind of small, but nice. The member's are kind of crazy here but I think they will really like Elder Breinholt a lot. Elder Frame said that it is really good and that it is growing pretty fast and that there is a lot of help. I think this is referring to Jed's new branch.

In São Borja, there are 3 areas. The city is kind of like a strip. You have the river Uruguay. The area closest to the river is Elder Breinholt's area. His comp is Elder Marinho. He is cool. I have been in the same district as Marinho for over half of my mission. He is a different kind of character but I really like him. My new comp is Elder Abreu. He was the comp of Elder Breinholt in São Pedro do Sul. What is cool is that all four of us were in the same district in Santa Maria.

He is assigned to Ramo Passo, which means Passo Branch. He uses the same chapel as my branch. The chapel is in my area. I'd say the chapel is 15 minutes walking from their house, which is a nice house, but their branch has a bus that picks everyone up on Sundays.

Thanks Lynn!

A New Area!!

Dear Family,

Today will be kinda short. (Aren't they all lately! grrrr)

Today is transfers and I'll be going to a town called Sao Borja. It is up on the border with Argentina.

My new compainon will be Elder Marinho. This will be good because he got in the mission with me!

It'll be cool. I don't have a lot of time to write...have to pack.

It's been a good run here in Quarai.

But I gotta eat, pack and stuff...

Love you all!
Elder Jed Breinholt

This is the new chapel in Sao Borja.

Thanks to Elder Lee's website I was able to get these pictures. Elder Lee has been in Sao Borja for awhile now. I met his Mom, Lynn on a missionary mom e-mail group.

Monday, April 20, 2009

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Dear Family... that I love so much...

Today I am writing you all from Santa Maria.

I had to renew my visa, so I had to come here just for today. Speaking of that, last night at 11:00 pm we left Quarai and we got here at 4:00 am. So I’m pretty tired, if this e-mail doesn’t make a lot of sense you’ll know why. What’s worse is that we have to leave 7:30pm tonight to get their 1:15 am tomorrow, super tiring!

I got the package everything was great thanks.

Because I’m in Santa Maria it will be a little short. Transfers are next week, so the next e-mail you get will tell you all where I’m going...or staying.

Things with the companion are this: like I said in another e-mail...he gets really stressed...so I have to calm him down...but things are good and will always get better.

So that’s my life! This week was good with zone conference and all. You know the times they are a changin’! And it’s getting better all the time!

Anyway it’s kinda short but I’ll have more news next week!

Love you all

Elder Jed Breinholt

Monday, April 13, 2009

Family...

Dear Family
This week has been good I guess.

Turns out I’ve become super peaceful and passive on the mission especially with this companion.

The baptisms were good the water was cold. The pump for the water to heat the font was broken. Every baptism I have had in the mission there’s always a problem with the heat.

Sorry that this e-mail will be a little short but I'm kind of tired and I have to write president.

But I love you all and will write more next week.

Elder Jed Breinholt

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Hello Family!

Today was really awesome because we played soccer with the Uruguay Missionaries International P-days are AWESOME! So I'm sending you some pictures of that! Maybe you'll find someone that somebody will know. But let me tell you how this International P-day got started and yes it does have to do with conference:

So Saturday we got all ready for Conference and went to our lunch appointment and then we went to the chapel to watch conference when we got there we found out that the satellite translator broke and there wasn't going to be any conference it was pretty sad. So we missed the first session but decided to call president and see if we could go to Uruguay to watch it. He said yes, so we went there for the afternoon session. There we had some pretty interesting experiences trying to get the T.V. to work to watch it in English but finally we got it. Anyway so we were over there with the Uruguayan missionaries and we all decided to play soccer together. That's what we did today it was really fun! Saturday night we didn't watch the Priesthood session for two factors 1. It started at 9:00pm 2. We didn't know that the satellite got fixed.

But about Conference: I only watched 3 sessions so bear with me.. My favorite talk was Elder Hollands I think it was really powerful and moving I also liked Elder Scotts about going to the temple even when its close. Remember in June when I wrote you guys about the dedication talks of the Curitiba Temple and how someone talked about the same thing while he was talking I was remembering that talk too it was really good!

Zone Conference is coming up on the 16th so I'll get your package then. A little bit more about Gaspar, Carla, Francielle, and Sindi. Francielle and Sindi are not little girls One is 15 the other is 17 but Sindi doesn't live with them she lives with her husband (they're not married) 17 years old and lost in the world. We were trying to help her but you know how it is. Francielle will be baptized with her Mom on Saturday, completing the family except Sindi. It'll be great. But the Baptism was really good!

Anyway I'm doing good and it's getting better all the time but I want you all to know I love you and pray for your strength every day. Stay firm because this is the way it is. The gospel is true and we can be together forever! I love you and appreciate your support.

Was it long enough?

Love

Elder Jed Breinholt

I'll post the pictures next week. I'm in Utah with Ben and Annie for Spring Break!

Monday, March 30, 2009

Snow, wind, snow and more wind = burried

Wrote...didn't send....got deleted

out of time

still hot

zone conference...soon...don't know

2 daughters

love you all
Elder Jed Breinholt

Well, well, well! My favorite kind of letter!! AHHHHHH!! I hope next week is better.

Another snow day in Northeastern Wyoming. The storms that have and are hitting Fargo, ND are hitting us first. We have no rivers to flood thank goodness. Fargo is part of our mission, South Dakota Rapid City, so our prayers are with all of them. Tracy did go to work but no school again today. If we keep it up, at this rate we'll be going to school until the end of June! Today is our 5th snow day this year.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Another Snow Storm...

We are due another blizzard snow storm tonight and tomorrow. The city is on alert so I may be able to post Jed's e-mail tomorrow and I may not we shall see if it hits like it did last week!

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Portuguese Lesson Enclosed...

Dear family

Today was transfers, and nothing will happen with me! I’m remarkably happy, this way I get to see the fruits of my labors here in Quarai. This week I was thinking about how you guys must be pronouncing this name so I’ll help. It’s pronounced Quad-i-e (note the I and the E are both long sounds) I hope that helped.

Sunday will be the marriage of Gaspar to Carla and the baptism of Gaspar so that will be really good. If you want to get them a hymn book the family name will be Família dos Santos.

Anyway so yeah, about Mothers Day I don’t even know if I’ll be here in Quarai then so well see here in a few weeks 6 to be exact.

Why did nobody tell me that Elisabeth and Bobby will be going to Virginia? I knew that they were still looking.

Anyway other than that there hasn’t really been a lot of stuff new this week turned out to be kinda boring but it’s been good over-all really.

So that’s my life and I love it!

Love you all,

Elder Jed Breinholt
Sorry it’s so short...more next week! Lots of good stuff will happen this week!

P.S. Sorry about the late post this week we've been without internet for 2 days. We have been literally snowed into our house for two days and Tracy and I went out for the first time today. It was awful! School has been cancelled and Tracy's office closed Monday and Tuesday and school is also cancelled tomorrow. No school tomorrow because most of the neighborhood streets are just one lane and the busses won't be able to run. We only got about 8-10 inches but the wind blows it into drifts that are 8-10 feet high in front of peoples houses and in the middle of roads. And on the lawn we have hardly any in the back yard. It's crazy! Our house was spared this time but our street and the house next door were not quite so lucky! So, 3 snow days in one week. Both Ben and Annie said at dinner tonight that they were ready to go back to school. I wonder if it had anything to do with me making them clean their rooms and bathrooms this morning! Hmmmm what can I get them to do tomorrow!
This is the drift looking up our street it's about 7-8 feet high!

This is the house next door.
They always get plastered with that big drift.
Sometimes it continues across the yards and across our
driveway but this time we were lucky.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Family!

I don’t really have a lot to write this week...and plus...
I’m helping another Elder with some pictures...it’s his last week and the mission.

Anyway this week was awesome! Found a lot of incomplete families. Families where the parents are inactive and the kids aren’t baptized. It was a really good week with a lot of good experiences...signed the beginning papers for the wedding of Gaspar and Carla. It’s going to be awesome.

So really the only thing is a funny story about how we found one of these families. We were walking to find a door we already knocked that I had thought of the night before. So we were walking and we walked passed a door when I heard a girl speaking English. So we walked past and I looked at Elder Trindade and said "lets help her" so we did. We helped all the kids in the family with their homework. Come to find out...the parents are inactive members. It was a really good lesson. The parents have a great desire come back to church and have the kids baptized...it’s awesome! So when we left the house Elder Trindade looked at me and said "we already knocked that door". Turns out it was the same one I was thinking of! The Lord really prepared that family and led us to find them...it was awesome.

Time is short...so I’ll add a picture to help ease the pain.

A giant frog...the 2liter bottle is for reference!

Com Amor

Elder Breinholt

Monday, March 9, 2009

Família Querida (Dear Family)

Companionship Trinholt!
This week has been Awesome!

The baptism on Saturday was really good, very spiritual. It’s always a great feeling to know the person that is getting baptized is really a convert. One of the problems here in Brazil is that people are very whimmy. So they get baptized and then they go inactive. It’s sad really...but when you have that convert, that really is converted, it’s great. Maria Leia, 6 months ago she didn’t want to know anything about the church. She was even a little reluctant to sign the baptismal record of her son. Then just look what happened Saturday –baptism!

It’s funny we were talking to her the other day and she told us that her favorite part of church is Relief Society, the union of the sisters in the branch. This is the blessing of the organizations in the church...this is why we have them! To build unity...it’s a great blessing!

Anyway...

Yeah transfers happened...4 weeks ago...I thought I told you guys I switched companions! Weird...anyway Elder Trindade is from Bethlehem (in Portuguese Belem) a city at the mouth of the Amazon...he’s pretty good I guess...

The stuff in the package is great the only thing I want...is Ho-Ho’s and scripture markers...and muffin mixes too...I’ll look if I have other stuff...and get back to you.

Anyway…the work is going really good.

I don’t know what you can say to the missionaries...don’t tell them I got a baptism Saturday...It’ll sound braggy!! Tell them that I’m doing great and loving the work. Missing cars and air conditioning and sun that doesn’t bake my brain. Tell them that we had Elder Amato talk to us and that he said something I really liked...baptism comes as a result of obedience. This is what I have learned, and applying it has been tons of fun! A challenge to be more obedient than my companion is really fun. Unless your companion is a slacker...but even then...help them be more obedient than you...I really don’t know...the mission is just a lot of fun! (My Relief Society Presidency are feeding the Elders in our Zone for Zone Conference this week and President Cannon always asks me to give a little report on Jed.)

But that’s my week...

With pictures...baptism...Me and Elder Trindade...

Anyway love you all,

Elder Jed Breinholt

Monday, March 2, 2009

Holy TAN Batman!

Foto: A really cool tree in a park in Uruguay...I couldnt resist taking a picture

I’ll start by saying no I didn’t burn anything...the only thing I’ve burned in the mission is some spaghetti sauce I was making. I happen to think the tradition is kinda silly...and plus...my clothes are still good.

But the mission life is good...

I’m going to include answers to everybody’s questions and such in this e-mail.

So this week we had mission tour with Elder Amato who is an Area Seventy like I told you about last week. It was a good conference. I thought a lot about what I could do better.

The best experience I had this week was teaching Carla and Gaspar. Saturday night we went there and watched “Together Forever” with them and we talked about eternal families. The member we were with bore her testimony extremely strongly. The spirit was so sweet there. My testimony was strengthened because of that lesson. And what was better was that...ok Gaspar has been going to church firmly since we started teaching them and his daughter 2 weeks after. Carla had just gone to church the first week with Gaspar. Anyway, so she was wanting to get married but church wasn’t important and stuff like that. We were a little worried, how could we help her allow the spirit to testify to her. She had kinda a closed heart. But Saturday was AWESOME it really touched her I think. So Sunday morning rolled around and SHE WENT TO CHURCH! It was awesome.

The Lord is really blessing us here in Morelle(the name of the branch) We had a lot of people that went to church that I had never seen in church this Sunday. A lot of inactives. Miracles are REAL!

So do you know who will be the next mission president is yet? It’ll be interesting to find out.
We are getting a new Mission President this July here in our mission (South Dakota Rapid City)

Elder Tindade is my companion. I thought I wrote you guys about him. We’re doing good he is really stressed. I tell him everyday...RELAX DUDE!

Anyway, this Saturday we have a baptism, a recent convert’s mom, it’s going to be AWESOME. I’ll send you pictures.

So this is my life as a missionary...

Love you all

Elder Jed Breinholt

P.S. Thanks for the e-mails everyone! And the ideas Amy and Angela, they’re different than anything we are doing.

P.S.S. I’ll take more pictures...you just wait

Monday, February 23, 2009

Mother I Love You, Mother I Do!

Dear Dad,

Your e-mail this week really was exactly what I was needing.

Yesterday we had a great experience with a lady named Marialea. We challenged her for baptism on March 7th. She is the mother of a member here and we’ve been teaching her ever since I got here. She was really active in another church, but after her son got baptized she felt confused. She felt good when she came to our church. One of the problems she had with her other church was that no one would visit her from the church, so she felt a little lonely. We started visiting her with members, WHAT GREAT SUCCESS! Now she rarely misses a Sunday at church. The problem was she wasn’t feeling ready for baptism. Last night we went there and asked her the baptismal interview questions. After that we told her what she answered was exactly right and challenged her. It was so great. We also had the confirmation of Fabricio, our baptism 2 weeks ago, that was also good. The work is moving forward. We are getting ready for the marriage of Gaspar and Carla, things are getting under way on that....YAY!

This week, Thursday to be exact I will have one year in the mission. This week we also have a conference with one of the Area Seventies in Brazil it should be good. It couldn’t come at a better time, a super recharge.

Remember Zone Conferences and how you come away feeling on fire ready to baptize everyone. Now imagine with an Area Seventy! This is the perfect time for this to happen.

I’d really like to know some of the ideas you used on your mission (or saw used) to find new people to teach, besides knocking doors. And maybe some funny stories that have to do with that. (Ok all you cousins that are RM's post a comment about the above and I'll send them on to him)

I will talk to you next Monday and talk about my resolve to do better.

Love your one year old son,

Elder Jed Breinholt


(2 letters this week)

Ok, so I wrote a lot to Dad...but I‘ll write about the questions to you.

This week we are going to get our mail and stuff. So I’ll get my package then.

Pao de Queijo by nature is salty. I’m sure they turned out awesome! But by all means try them again and again and again!

This week has been unbelievably hot and humid. The past 4 days it has rained at night, it’s a good thing it was at night.

I’m going to start a list for my next package. Don’t worry when you send it just so you know.

Barbeque sauce - There is a member that served in Boston here and he wants bbq sauce, peanut butter and such.

Scripture markers - Those simple ones I have and I would also like an all in one. (You can find them at Seagull Book) You mark a lot of scriptures in one year. Even more if you have two sets of scriptures.

I had a whole list of stuff in one of my planners...but this is a start.

The branch is good...growing a lot...we (me and Elder Trindade) are doing good. We've caught the wave in this branch. I hope we can keep it going!

I love you mom and the rest of the fam!

Elder Jed Breinholt

p.s. Ask Elder Oliveira what his first name is...for this member...and ask him if he remembers meeting an Elder de Juli that served 2001-2002 in Boston. He never served in the Portuguese branches but says he knew a lot of Portuguese speaking members.

Do you have a recipe for cheesecake...there is a Brazilian that wants it!

Love you

Elder Elvis Jed Breinholt

The Last Link!

Here is the last link of the chain!! Year One is Done!






Next week we start taking two marbles from the glass each week, when it's empty he's home!

Monday, February 16, 2009

Dear Family,

Today...is rainy.

This week has been alright I guess. This time switching companions has been a little bit different but I’ll pull through don’t you worry.

I’ve been thinking this week a lot about how to apply charity and love. How I can love people more, my companion as well as those I serve. It’s something I need to work on. There’s always something. That’s what we get for not being perfect.

It’s so weird to hear about these friends of Abi’s going on their missions...it makes me feel old.

The baptism was good. The companionship is alright. I get impatient with people that complain about everything!

I haven’t seen the Uruguayan Elders for 3 weeks...so we haven’t played soccer with them.

I need to write president...but I love you all and pray for you

Elder Jed Breinholt

Monday, February 9, 2009

Father...

I'm working like there's no tomorrow. 37 lessons this week 4 people in Sacrament Meeting.

I've learned this transfer to recognize the Lords hand a lot more. It's crazy how many miracles are wrought in the mission.

Thanks for the talk. I liked the story about your mission. What other stories do you have from your mission? I'm interested to hear them, you never really talked about your mission in depth when I was at home. I really liked your talk. That's one thing I've learned how to do on the mission better...write talks.

Tracy sent Jed a copy of a talk he gave yesterday on the Word of Wisdom.

Anyway this week is really without many surprises or new things. Gaspar and Carla are progressing, and we have a baptisim lined up for this saturday...fabrisio is his name he is a good kid.

So that's my life right now...learning alot!

Elder Jed Breinholt

Love you All