A Mile in My Black Rockports

Check List...

2010-02-13T15:15:00.004-07:00

Made room in the closet - check
Bed made - check
Clothes aired out and ready - check
Bathroom cleaned - check
Que the blizzard - check
Remember to take a coat to the airport - check

4 days - really
I can hardly think about it!

Posted without editing!

2010-02-08T16:02:00.001-07:00

anyway...

so yeah i wont be writing next week because i dont see the need to but things are good.. im excited and super scared...

but things are going good... i think i got you guys the right sizes in shoes... just bobby that is a no go... but i'll get him something cool....

anyway so yeah... dont know what to say... My bags are super heavy... and really full... i think i will have to leave alot of stuff... like my blanket the young women made for me...

but yeah... you'll really like the gaucho stuff i am going to bring

but working hard and living good.. loves you all

1 WEEK BABY!
Elder Jed Breinholt

OH MY! Single digits!!

2010-02-08T06:32:00.002-07:00

WOW!

Hey Family...

2010-02-01T16:12:00.000-07:00

OK I'm just gonna write fast... seeing as though I have to buy some other stuff.

But this week was good.

I want you all to know that I'm working my hardest... and it's going good.

Anyway... but yeah... just a quick note... letting you all know that I love you and I'm feeling good... DONT FORGET A JACKET FOR ME!!!!

Elder Jed Breinholt

This Just In...

2010-01-25T21:53:00.003-07:00

Hard Week...

Very Rewarding...

Gave Talk In Sacrament Meeting...

Need more money... I just need to buy a few more things.

These past 3 weeks have been the hardest of my mission...

Do you think that the hour layover in SLC will be enough time to see people who go to the airport?

I really don’t know what to say... let’s just say that I’m super nervous... WOW... it’s coming up fast.

IM FREAKED OUT FOR THE FUTURE... I really don’t know what’s going to happen...

But the work rolls on... we laugh we live and we(as most missionaries in Brazil do)WALK!

Yesterday we had a really good lesson with a kid named Tiago... it was good... he recently got back from Haiti. Brazil is on an U.N. Peacekeeping trip there. The whole Earthquake thing has hit pretty hard down here. It was a really good lesson he has a lot of potential to be baptized... too bad I won’t be here to see it. You see the have to get married.

But yeah... it was good last week...

AND THE SANTA MARIA STAKE WILL DIVIDE...

That’s awesome... 2 Stakes in Santa Maria.

But that’s my life... pray for me to be focused these last couple weeks... LOVE YOU!

Elder Jed Breinholt

For those of you interested in stopping by the SLC Airport...
Delta Terminal - Baggage Claim Area
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Arrival 10:00 a.m.
Departure 11:00 a.m.

It looks like Jed will have about 20-30 minutes before his flight to Gillette. I hope as many as you can will go say hi!

você está Trunkie?!?!?!? (Are You Trunkie?)

2010-01-18T11:31:00.004-07:00

Well it appears that the head wound required a few stitches, his first ever!

Also about my head... remember how I hit it...well just look at the attached picture. I'm fine but let's just say that recently it has not been an awesome thing for me.

Wow what a rush...

OK so this week has been ok... just a few experiences...

Monday to Tuesday Ipuked my guts out. I got food poisoning for the first time in my life, in the mission, but I'm totally better now!!!

About the work. Let's just say its going slow.

This week we had a pretty good experience. The testimony of an investigator is gold. We had a lady, Rosi, that we were teaching the Restoration to and at the end we invited her to pray. She said, "I don't need to pray I already know what your saying is true." It was probably the best experience of the week.

It's been a really cool experience coming back to one of the same areas where I already passed. Because you go back to old investigators houses. We were doing that with a family I taught here, a lady named Katrina and her son Mateus, it's going good.

The other photo is all the kids from Davis County in the mission... DCC Davis County Crew!
Elder Taylor: Sunset
Elder Ball: Kaysville
Elder Breinholt: Layton
Elder Buttersworth: Kaysville

FO SHO

Elder Swingle is good... having trouble with the language but we'll get him.

Only four 3 More E-mails...

You All Trunkie?

But love you all and I want you to know I'm praying for you!

LESS GO!

Elder Jed Breinholt

I Live...

2010-01-12T17:58:00.003-07:00

I spoke too soon. This is what we got from Jed this afternoon.

Dear Family,

This past week has been really good.

Pres. told me to write you guys. So I'm just writing you really quick to let you know that I'm alive...

Time is passing by so fast I can't believe I only have 5 weeks left!

I love you all and talk to you later

I promise you next week I'll write on time

This week we had a counsel with all the mission leaders that took too much time!

You'll get some photos as well next e-mail.

Elder Jed Breinholt

No e-mail Monday

2010-01-12T12:30:00.002-07:00

No e-mail yesterday. We did get an e-mail from President Myhrra that Jed has been made the District Leader.

We are 1 month 5 days away! WOW! We haven't received his travel plans yet. There is a possibility that he will come through SLC. If he does we will let you know if he has a lay-over and those of you in SLC may want to go to the airport and say hi.

He will be speaking here in our ward on Sunday, February 21 at 9:00 a.m. Anyone who wants to come on up to Gillette is more than welcome we would love to have you!

Hey Fam!

2010-01-04T07:08:00.002-07:00

Today was a good day! We hiked a mountain. I'm not going to write alot today...but let's just say that it was fun and here's a bunch of pictures....

More on the way next week

Not going to Sao Borja, going back to Parque Pinhero....here in Santa Maria...with my 5th American compainion...Elder Swingle.

That whole mountain thing wiped me out...

love you all...working harder...talk to you not this monday but the next...

bye hope you enjoy the pictures...

btw hit my head on the roof of a bus stop...i guess im just too tall...

loves...

Our Christmas Call!

2009-12-26T08:34:00.004-07:00

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!

E AÍ COMPADRES!

2009-12-20T09:10:00.000-07:00

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

Vinyl Discs make great Birthday Presents

2009-12-12T08:28:00.003-07:00

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

Goose Muffins?

2009-12-05T17:31:00.003-07:00

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

2 months, 2 weeks, 2 days!

2009-12-01T07:12:00.003-07:00

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!

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

2009-11-28T08:26:00.001-07:00

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

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

2009-11-21T13:50:00.002-07:00

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...

2009-11-21T08:58:00.004-07:00

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

Why Does it always gotta rain!?

2009-11-14T08:17:00.004-07:00

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!

Lots of falling water!

2009-11-08T09:27:00.002-07:00

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

Hey Fam...

2009-11-01T15:43:00.008-07:00

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.

Saturday p-day

2009-10-26T06:46:00.005-06:00

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

BURRO EU SOU!

2009-10-19T11:58:00.004-06:00

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

Done in by the e-mail system!!

2009-10-17T14:37:00.002-06:00

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

2009-10-17T14:34:00.003-06:00

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

hmmm....no e-mail today

2009-10-10T17:22:00.003-06:00

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!

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

2009-10-03T22:28:00.003-06:00

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

New Posts!

2009-09-29T06:50:00.002-06:00

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

WHIBITS AND FLIMJIMS!

2009-09-29T06:40:00.001-06:00

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!

2009-09-29T06:24:00.003-06:00

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

P-day moves to Saturday!!

2009-09-14T20:23:00.001-06:00

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"

-The Office-(insert theme song here)

2009-09-07T15:19:00.010-06:00

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.

Transfers...

2009-08-31T10:52:00.002-06:00

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

p.s. TELL GRANDMA I LOVE HER TOO!

2009-08-24T14:45:00.004-06:00

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?

Book of Mormon Challenge!

2009-08-17T15:32:00.003-06:00

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

2009-08-17T15:30:00.000-06:00

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

Doug the Duck!

2009-08-10T15:20:00.006-06:00

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!

Fama Bam Bam Bam...

2009-08-03T15:26:00.004-06:00

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

Elder Breinholt Calling

2009-07-27T16:11:00.000-06:00

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 :(

2009-07-27T16:04:00.001-06:00

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

Fam...

2009-07-24T22:45:00.002-06:00

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!

Sorry it's a late post...

2009-07-19T22:20:00.003-06:00

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.

Family...

2009-07-07T09:05:00.004-06:00

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.

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

2009-07-01T14:52:00.002-06:00

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

Good Times!

2009-06-29T11:41:00.004-06:00

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.

WOW!

2009-06-23T13:39:00.001-06:00

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

Mom & Pop

2009-06-16T12:54:00.001-06:00

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

It's cold in Wyoming too!

2009-06-08T11:05:00.000-06:00

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

ANOTHER PAIR OF SMART WOOL SOCKS

2009-06-01T06:51:00.007-06:00

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.

Thumbs Up Everyone!

2009-05-25T12:59:00.002-06:00

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

So here's one for Jed!

2009-05-21T18:33:00.004-06:00

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

The family on Splash Mountain at Disneyland!

This one's for you Jed!

It´s all Backwards!

2009-05-20T06:22:00.005-06:00

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!

Every little thing is gonna be alright now!

2009-05-11T22:23:00.003-06:00

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.

THANK YOU ELDER LEE!

2009-04-27T15:43:00.002-06:00

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!!

2009-04-27T08:59:00.007-06:00

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.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

2009-04-20T14:33:00.002-06:00

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

Family...

2009-04-13T14:26:00.000-06:00

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

2009-04-07T22:11:00.003-06:00

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!

Snow, wind, snow and more wind = burried

2009-03-30T08:56:00.005-06:00

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.

Another Snow Storm...

2009-03-29T22:57:00.001-06:00

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!

Portuguese Lesson Enclosed...

2009-03-24T18:22:00.005-06:00

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.

Family!

2009-03-16T09:28:00.004-06:00

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

Família Querida (Dear Family)

2009-03-09T10:07:00.005-06:00

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

Holy TAN Batman!

2009-03-02T13:26:00.003-07:00

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

Mother I Love You, Mother I Do!

2009-02-23T09:23:00.003-07:00

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!

2009-02-23T06:25:00.005-07:00

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!

Dear Family,

2009-02-16T09:14:00.002-07:00

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

Father...

2009-02-09T10:28:00.002-07:00

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

Hey Family!

2009-02-02T14:46:00.004-07:00

So when I read about Elder Correa and Elder de Oliveria I laughed pretty hard. Mostly because the other day I was looking at my map and I found Santa Maria, California. I told myself I was going to visit there after my mission...just to take a picture.

Elder Correa and Elder de Oliveria are in our area here in Gillette. Elder Correa was born in Mexico, speaks Spanish and is from Santa Maria, California. Elder de Oliveria is from Boston but was born in Brazil and speaks Portuguese. They were at our house for dinner on Sunday and they were arguing about which language is better Portuguese or Spanish.

So about the package. The ward sent a bunch of stuff...floss...toothpaste...Cheetos (Brazilians thank the ward) stuff like that.

Thanks for the article...it will help a lot.

I sent him an article from Elder Jay E. Jensen "Have I Received an Answer From the Spirit"
Ensign April 1989

This week was really tiresome...so my mind is blanking on what to write. Carla and Gaspar are doing good. This week we had 72 in Sacrament Meeting, it was really good.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! I completely forgot until the 29th when I looked in my planner and said, "It's my Moms birthday!" yeah...sorry about that... I would have wrote last week but I didn't remember.

My first year is coming to a close here shortly and there are times that I don't think I can go another...it's kinda weird...other times it seems that it's gone so fast.

Anyway...sorry it's really short this week...but my mind seriously got fried with the sun this week. The sun is extremely hot!

tchau Amo Vocs

Elder Jed Breinholt

Hey Fam!

2009-01-26T07:08:00.003-07:00

This week we had Zone Conference it was good...about listening to the spirit...learned a lot...it was really good! I’ll answer some questions and then if there is anything else I’ll write.

For Mom:

1. Did you receive the Wards package to you? Yes...it was good...Thank you everyone!

2. I’m sending your package this week anything else you want? Do you want me to send you a card for your camera? Card...2 gigs is the max... and a card reader please! Chocolate chips would be good...a big bag! And if there is a way for you guys to send me shortening...that’s one thing that I haven’t found here is shortening. Last Sunday I made bread...turned out decent but I didn’t have shortening...is there a way to make shortening?

3. Is it still Hot, Hot, Hot? Is it ever! I’m sweating like a pig!

4. Have you played soccer with the Elders in Artigas yet? Are there Americans there too and where are they from? No...And everyone that I have met over there is American...everyone! But I got a Spanish grammar book to start learning Spanish...from Elder Plumb from California!

5. How are you and Elder Rocha getting along? Yeah...we have our ups and downs but it’s
good

8. I would love more pictures!!! I need a card reader

9. Where is Elder Mathis from? SANDY Utah!

For Dad:

The city (Artigas, Uruguay) on the other side of the border looks even larger than the one you are in. How many wards or branches are over there? And are they branches or wards? (You said the church is pretty strong there.) It’s a Stake with wards over there...I don’t know the exact number...I’ll ask!

I would think that the units over there are in a different Stake/District. Is this true? Yeah they’re in a different area of the Seventy too! The South America South Area here in Brazil, but Quarai was already part of the Uruguay mission...a long time ago!

Do you just walk across the border are do you have to show your passport? Just walk. Uruguay is really lax about stuff like that. When you fly that is where they are strict...have to have your passport and stuff. But to walk you got nothing I don’t even have my passport...it’s in Santa Maria!

You talked about Gaspar and Carla. How are they progressing? Are they your only investigators? How many more do you have? Beautifully! Gaspar was at church this week...rode his bike...he’s already asking about baptism and if he has to be married...great experiences this week! Here in Brazil you find a lot of people that are just living together it’s kinda difficult in that respect. The reason is...one word...MONEY. It’s expensive to get married so people just don’t. We are teaching a lot but Gaspar and Carla have the most potential.

Anyway Zone Conference was really good! Really really good! I learned a lot! The spirit really is a complicated thing to listen to but study brings understanding!

I love you all and pray for your success!

Elder Jed Breinholt

Family...

2009-01-19T15:51:00.002-07:00

This week has been pretty good. Filled with lots of walking and hurt feet. But they´re getting better! This week has been filled with a many challenges and many miracles. We taught a lot of lessons.

Right now we´re teaching Gaspar and Carla, I don’t know if I already told you about them. What an amazing family. Gaspar takes care of horses for some guy and lives on this farm the farthest house from the center of the city in our area...WAY IN THE BOONDOCKS. Elder Rocha found them through Carla on the bus. Really this family is awesome. Last week they came to church. We hadn´t even taught them The Restoration. Gaspar woke up at 5:00 instead of his usual 7:00 to go to church and then they came in a taxi. All of our lessons with them are really spiritual...we´ll see!

So I was thinking what else I wanted and I decided I want one of those measuring cups like the pampered chef one we have that does liquid and solids. I’ve started cooking a lot more and everything is in metric so I need some stuff in both. It’s hard to find here in Brazil. Also I want measuring spoons.

Zone Conference is Thursday...should be good.

The Eders in the picture are me, Elder Mathis, Elder Felix and Elder Ferreira. In the birthday photo are Pres. Angelo, Lerri, me and Elder Ferreira. Have fun! Talk to you all next week...

Jed Breinholt

Who are in the pictures...

2009-01-19T15:44:00.003-07:00

Jed, Elder Mathis, Elder Felix and Elder Ferreira

Sao Pedro Branch President Angelo, Lerri, Jed and Elder Ferreira

And they called the place Quaraí!

2009-01-12T12:36:00.004-07:00

Hello Family!

This week has been awesome! Seriously it’s been full of miracles and successes.

First let me tell you about the area a little bit...

Quarai is a small city on the border with Uruguay. Only 18,000 people or so in Quarai but the church is pretty strong here. There are 4 branches here, and it’s really close to becoming a stake. Everybody is wanting this a lot. Anyway it’s really good because we get to go into Uruguay (not too far). We get the pleasure of the duty free shops. That means some foreign things (including American) being on the border it’s good because we get to talk with the Elders in Artigas (the city in Uruguay) a lot. We’ve been there 2 weeks and I’ve seen them both times, the same ones, 8 of them. I think there’s more in Artigas. We’ll play soccer with them soon...I’ll take some pictures.

My area is the smallest in Quarai just one street (with a few side streets) but it’s long like 3 miles from one side to the other. I have some pictures but you’ll have to wait...because I need to buy a card reader...I’ll buy it next week.

Elder Rocha is good, kind of a burner...meaning he tells you how it is but it’s good for me...we’re working hard. This week we had 5 investigators in Sacrament Meeting it was good.

We’re teaching a guy named Gaspar and his family...this was our miracle this week...Gaspar, he owns a farm at the end of the main street in our area. He woke up at 5 instead of his usual 7 o’clock to be able to go to church. He took a taxi because it was really far...which is a sacrifice...it was awesome!

Love,
Elder Breinholt

Happy Birthday!

This is the cake that the Branch Presidents wife in Sao Pedro

made for Jed's Birthday on December 21.

Hello!

2009-01-05T06:29:00.001-07:00

Today I went to Uruguay and bought some Chrome cologne. I’d been needing some cologne and they have duty free shops there…awesome!

The new area is really small basically just one street but its good...the branch is a lot stronger than Sao Pedro.

My mission is changing...for the better...much much better...working harder than ever.

It’s good! I’m having a lot of good experiences.

Elder Rocha is good...he’ll kick me into shape.

I don’t really have a lot to write this week. I’ll write more next week.

Love you all

We've gone from this...

To This!

I'm looking for count down ideas for next year. The chain was a last minute FHE idea one link per week. I'd like to do something different for next year. Something we do each Monday when we get Jed's e-mail. I'd love your ideas!

Bom Ano Novo! Happy New Year!

2008-12-29T22:02:00.006-07:00

I won’t write a lot... I’m going to Quarai...another smallish town with 4 branches. We’ll see how it goes...I’m excited.

My new companion will be Elder Rocha. One of Elder Abreau’s friends from back at home. We have the same amount of time in the mission. He’ll go home with me.
(Elder Abreau was Jed’s first companion in Sao Pedro)

It was really good to talk to you all...really good! I’ll send some pictures today.

Cleaning up after the flood
Christmas dinner!

Love you all...go google earth Quarai. It’s close to URUGUAY!!! I GET TO GO TO URUGUAY!

Talk to you all later!

Jed

LET’S WORK

Our call to Jed on Christmas was WONDERFUL! He told us that he would be transferred today so we were expecting it. He spent Christmas with the Branch President’s Family in Sao Pedro. He also spent his birthday last Sunday with them. The Branch Pres. Wife made him a birthday cake. They had a terrible rainstorm that flooded their apartment as you can see his companion cleaning up the floor. Jed said some of his books got wet but luckily they have dried out already. He sounded happy. He is getting a little tired of rice and beans. He loved Christmas Dinner. It was great that we were all here and could put him on speaker phone to talk. We miss him but know he is where he should be and where he wants to be.

p.s. I HATE THE HEAT!

2008-12-23T06:40:00.002-07:00

Hey family! Yesterday we had Mission Conference so that’s why I’m writing today

I’m dead tired...sunburned...in some pretty inconvenient places (not what you think) the feet, the back of the legs and the back of my neck. It makes being a missionary really hard.

I hate the heat. It kills me every day. It’s not Christmas...snow is needed to have Christmas.

How was your Mission Christmas gathering? IT WAS AWESOME. Tiring but fun... the stockings were good too...full of candy...had socks in it too...weird.

But like I said I’m dead. Transfers are coming up this next week. We’ll see.
So talk to you all Thursday.

Oh about my birthday. It was good. It didn’t feel like a birthday but whatever. I guess that’s growing up. We had a Christmas fireside in Santa Maria...it was good.

I love you all...Elder Jed Breinholt

Sunday the 21st was Jed's Birthday. We made a cake, had the Elders in our Ward over and celebrated! My Christmas baby just turned 20! It has been interesting week so far for me and a little emotional having his Birthday and Christmas all in one week and him gone. I'm still awaiting the details of our Christmas call. On Mothers day he called me to give me the information of when and where to call him so who knows I may hear from him today!!

Mission Conference Today = P-day Tomorrow

2008-12-22T18:47:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Elder Lee's Mom Lynn I now know why we had no e-mail today. Look for one tomorrow! Thanks for the e-mail Lynn!

38 degrees Celsius (100 F)

2008-12-15T06:40:00.004-07:00

It totally was really hot this week...REALLY REALLY HOT!

But it was a good week. Really it was.

Transfers are coming up on the 30th. I’ve kinda been thinking about those. Don’t think I’ll stay in Sao Pedro by the stuff President Myrrha told me. I really don’t know...we’ll see. I know I need to forget them and get to work.

Today we are going to see the big rock...or Pedra Grande. It’s a rock with Indian paintings on it about 20km outside of Sao Pedro. We’re going with our Branch President. I’m super excited! I’ll send you pictures next week...it’ll be awesome!

Anyway...you guys as a family are doing great! I get e-mail every single week...this is good...don’t worry about it. When people send me letters it’s hard for me to write back to them. I do it it’s just hard...I don’t know why.

Got my backpack Tuesday.

So it really is true...without Christmas there would be no Easter. Christmas is important...really important...if we stay with the focus and not with the papai noel!(that’s Santa Claus in Portuguese)

So it turns out I think I’ll be talking to you guys at Presidente Ngelos house...(branch president) I’ll get the details and you’ll know.

Wow this year has shot by...here in two months I’ll have one year in the mission...Crazy...here in one week I’ll be 20...WHY DOES TIME SHOOT BY SO FAST!?

But the work is coming good...thank you all for your prayers and love.

I love you all

FELIZ NATAL!

Elder Jed Breinholt

We are just the opposite here in Wyoming. Right now it is -21. We are breaking all kinds of records. At least the wind has died down we had a -45 wind chill Saturday night. Bundle up stay inside and make hot chocolate! The kids even have a 2 hour delay for school this morning because of the cold.

**Update** School is CLOSED because it is so cold. Anyone up for a visit? See you soon Elisabeth and Bobby!

Very good week everybody!

2008-12-08T16:03:00.005-07:00

Pikes Place Fish Market

This week was Zone Conference...it was really good!

We talked about Pikes Place Fish Market and how they do something different and how they’re world famous because of it and what we can do with the Book of Mormon to make people want to read it more. It was a really good conference.

Christmas is coming! Here’s some calling instructions...only 40 minutes this time(ask the missionaries to show you the missionary handbook)…so that’s why. You’ll call me, I don’t know where yet. We need to find a member that will let us use their phone. I’ll e-mail you in the future about this.

This week I made a line graph of my numbers for the week. I highly recommend it to missionaries. It shows you a lot of stuff that you can do better. Do just your key indicators and total lessons including less-actives.

I’m doing great. I Can Totally Focus Now without problem.

The package was great...one question though...Why Catapult guns?
(He’ll know when he and his companion open up the Christmas stockings I sent and there are little Ninjas and Pirates that they can catapult 15-20 feet! Just some good missionary fun! The guns were too hard to wrap.)

That would be great about the testimonies.
(Elder Oliveria is going to translate our testimony into Portuguese and I'm going to print them ready to be glued into Books of Mormon or is it Book of Mormons! ha ha)

This part is for Elder Oliveira....Tudo Bom? Cara...Como est a trabalho l? indo bem? Cara tenho um Monte de Referencias eu posso dar...mas acho que j dei...fala com minha irm quando ela chega em casa...Abi...sobre indo para falar com algums de meus amigos...SERIA BOM DE MAIS! S Vai! cara se tem alguma coisa eu posso fazer ajudar vocs...Ideas, Qual quer coisa...s fala com minha me...Tchau meu irmo no senhor.
(Elder Oliveria is serving in our ward right now he is from Boston but was born in Brazil and moved to the US when he was 11 or 12.)

I know its short but we still gotta do lots of stuff today. But I will talk to you all later...and send pictures...too!

Elder Jed Breinholt

It's too hot!

2008-12-01T13:15:00.004-07:00

Hey Family!

How are you all? This week has been extremely stressful for me. But it has been good. It’s extremely hot and humid here now! It kinda makes me mad! But its good. I’ll answer the questions and then continue a little bit.

How's Training going? It’s good. I have the most responsibility of my mission but it’s good. Work hard...lose myself and my companion...in the work.

New Companion adjusting well? Yeah...really tired a lot...that’s normal for the first few weeks.

Anyway...Christmas is coming...got my package for Christmas/Birthday...SWEET! Don’t worry I won’t open it...

How’s the missionary work going in Gillette?

I have an idea for the fam...every one carry a few pass-along-cards of Joy to the World with them and give them to people saying Merry Christmas! Just explain that the card has this 1-800 number that they can call and get a free dvd with Christmas music in it.

I can’t wait to talk to you all.

I need to find something to eat...I’m starving!

That’s all for today...

LOVE YOU ALL
ELDER JED BREINHOLT

P.S. MY LIFE PERSPECTIVES ARE CHANGING!

Well HOWDY DOODY!!!

2008-11-24T08:48:00.004-07:00

My new companions name is: Elder Ferreira from Panabucu in the north of the country. Today is his first p-day...poor Elder he is really lost! But he is a good guy. Training is probably the most fun and the hardest thing I’ve done on my mission to date! These Elders from the CTM are so filled with fire...excitement to work...so I have harnessed that power to work a lot! It’s awesome!

Abi wrote me today and told me that Jeff is going to Virginia...YAY!...what awesome news!

Eating pancakes with Elder Santana

About the pancakes…I made them from a recipe I had. I did a little modifying because we had a lot of bananas so we made banana pancakes they turned out good!

About American companionships…it is rare...but does happen. Usually happens with older more experienced missionaries because it is important to learn the language with someone that can translate for you!

And now the bad news...my package hasn’t arrived yet...were hoping today. But when it’s here Elder Wageman will shoot an e-mail to you. It’ll come...just wait!

YAY CALLING FAMILY! I’m going to warn you right now that I may slip into Portuguese while talking. It’s hard for me to talk English right...YAY FLUENCY!

I don’t have a ton of time today because I still have to write Pres.

But my message to Grandma is as follows:

Hey Grandma...just a quick note to say Happy Thanksgiving!
These days I have been remembering holidays at your house with beets, relish trays, and put-back-ins. It was always great...Holidays at Grandmas! I remember when I was young all of you people that ate beets seemed so weird to me, here in Brazil they eat a lot of beets. But not pickled. They eat them like grated carrots. I like beets now. Funny how our tastes change isn’t it? Anyway I am just wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving and telling you that I miss you a lot and that I love my mission!

Love you all! E-mail next week with pictures!

Elder Jed Breinholt

P.S.
This is the e-mail I just got from Elder Wageman in the office:

Sister Breinholt,
Ok, so today we went to the post office with Elder Breinholt (right after I wrote you) and his package arrived both of them! The one for him that had his shoes in it and the one for Christmas.
Congrats. He was way excited. and he wanted me to tell you that he loved you. and I love you too!

I am so glad!! I just sent his Birthday/Christmas package on Friday. The Christmas package mentioned above is one I sent full of candy for the mission to combine with other candy from the families in the states to use for a christmas stockings for all the missionaries in the mission.

I am so sorry everyone...

2008-11-17T20:41:00.003-07:00

Last week was crazy! There seriously was no time to do anything. We were in Santa Maria and weren’t close to an internet place.

Today was transfers. I will be getting a new companion here in Sao Pedro. I can’t tell you his name because Pres. Myhrra doesn’t even know who it will be yet. Tomorrow the new missionaries will arrive and Wednesday morning I will know...in short...I will be training a new missionary.

I have paused lately to reflect on how fast the mission is going by! 8 months! I was looking at my pictures of me and Elder Cordeiro...and it’s hard to believe that I will be in his position training a new missionary. At least he will be a Brazilian that will know Portuguese. Elder Abreu will be going to Sao Gabriel...the other area...not the one where I was! But he’ll know a lot of people I knew. So that’s pretty cool.

I have some pictures to send... One is of me and Elder Santana...eating pancakes. The other is of our zone soccer team...we won by-the-way. The back of my shirt says Breinholtch...tch is like dude here in the south of Brazil!

The work is good I guess. My teaching pool has gone to zero really fast. But with this excited greenie we will fill it back up...to BAPTIZE!!!

I didn’t get my shoes yet...hopefully tomorrow...I really need them!

I know it’s not a very long e-mail but Elder Abreu needs to say goodbye to some people.

I love you all and will have lots to write about next week

No e-mail Monday!!

2008-11-10T15:12:00.002-07:00

Well it's 3:00 p.m. here and 7:00 p.m. in Brazil and we have no e-mail. I think we won't be getting one today.

NO HALLOWEEN IN BRAZIL TOO!

2008-11-03T13:50:00.002-07:00

Hello Family

I’m doing fine. I don’t have a lot of time today...that whole bus thing...and p-day is almost up. But the week has been great.

Ok so I have a program to tell you about. This is a program that the mission is doing. It’s called the Live Christmas Card.

First members give names of families that they would like the missionaries to visit. Then the missionaries go there and sing 1 Christmas song. After that they tell the people who sent them (if the members can go with them...even better) and then the people let them in and they share a message about the life of Jesus Christ. That is the lesson we start with here in the mission. I’ll write it down when I have more time. Then they sing and leave. It’s good!

Anyway...transfers are in 2 weeks and I think something will change with us. I’ll keep you posted.

IT IS hot...Summer is not good...seriously...really humid...

We had some good times this week. We found a good family he believes in spiritism. I don’t know if you know what that is, but it’s a weird religion that believes in reincarnation and such... kinda weird...but well teach them good.

So I gotta go...BTW KEVIN BAKER GOT MARRIED?!?!?!?! That’s weird.

I will write earlier next week!

Fun fact...check the exchange rate of the dollar to the real...AWESOME!

LOVE YOU ALL!
Elder Big head Jed (I don’t know)

Time for a contest...

2008-10-29T07:03:00.003-06:00

Do you know which movie the frog got his line from? Can you pick out the movie line in Jed's last e-mail?

Good Luck! The first 3 readers with both correct answers will win a prize!
And that prize would be chocolate of course!

Funny Stuff!

2008-10-27T13:06:00.004-06:00

Ribbit! "Excuse me may I go to the bathroom...Thank You!"

Hello family...

Ok so it turns out I dropped the ball on the absentee ballot and now I can't VOTE. I had to be registered by the 6th of October. I feel really bad...bad Llama! What a crappy citizen I am!
Ok...I have stories to tell...
First...that one that you want to hear about

Some background information first...
1. The bus for São Pedro is not a city bus. It is an Inter-Municipal. That means Greyhound type 2. It’s not every 15 min, it’s every hour to an hour and a half (depending on the time of the day) 3. It does stop in locations around Santa Maria before taking the voyage! But we usually get it in the bus station (safer that way...after this story you’ll know why)
4. I don’t know where things are in Santa Maria...remember that I’m in São Pedro...

Ok so we were playing paintball in Santa Maria...really fun... and we finished... so we went to a bus stop. Knowing that our bus would drive by and we would give him the hitchhikers thumb...(weird how that’s the signal to stop a bus here, is it in the united states? I don’t know I don’t ride busses) So a bus came by...we stopped it...and asked if he was going to São Pedro...he told us to wait until 6:30 (to give you an idea, we had been waiting at the stop since 5:00...he came by at 6:00 so it was good news) We waited...and the bus started coming...and we were ready...stuck out my thumb and the bus...DROVE BY!!!!!! So we started running after it...the guy didn’t even look in the mirror.

So then I was like "well what now!?" I knew the direction of the bus station so we decided to start walking (remember that we had gotten done playing paint ball...we looked like clowns)
Anyway it took us an hour to get to the bus station...and even then...there wasn’t a bus until 8:00...which means we got home at 9:00 What A CRAZY DAY!

2nd story...

The other day we were in front of one of our investigators houses and I saw a frog...me being the boy I am picked it up. We were talking to our investigator...when all of the sudden I looked down and the frog was peeing on my pants needless to say I threw the frog some distance and went to go wash my hands. But that’s not all! I came out of the house and was thinking "the frog is done peeing...let’s pick it up again" THE FROG WAS NOT DONE PEEING!!!! I guess that’s what I get for thinking. GROSS!!! So that’s how I got peed on by a frog...

I hoped you like those humorous antidotes!
LETS WORK
Love you all...
Elder Jed Breinholt...

No card reader...sorry no pictures.

A short e-mail - but a good e-mail!

2008-10-20T13:59:00.007-06:00

So my e-mail will be a little shorter this week because I had to write to Pres. Myrrha... but anyway...

This week was really good. We had a baptism. Letica a 10 year old daughter of a member. That was good. What else...

Elias and Loricelia couldn´t meet with us this week but we´re going to call them soon. It really was a good lesson with them. We have an investigator by the name of Tiago. The lesson with him was awesome... really! We´re going back tonight to see him. He's already got an answer that the Book of Mormon is true. YAY!

I bought a big dictionary...look at the picture...its awesome!

I did talk to Sister Quist...and yes she does remember me...and we talked about some Layton stuff. Talked to Elder Lee today. He´s really good. He´s in my district. I´ll send pictures next week...will take them Thursday! He made 3 cds of photos today too!!! So expect some pictures Sister Lee! Oh and Sister Lee...thanks for sending those hymn number guides! They will really help!

Anyway kinda short I know but I gotta catch a bus!
tchau
Elder Breinholt
more pictures next week

My Family

2008-10-13T09:57:00.005-06:00

St. Peter

Read on...

Wow let´s talk about everybody telling me to write longer e-mails. Anyway so I got my package. Thank you Mom! Everything was what I wanted. The flag and the map especially. Elder Abreu says thanks. OK lets talk about callings in the mission. I´m a senior companion but that doesn´t mean I´m training. My companion is also a senior. He has more time in the mission than me but I am a senior companion as well.

I´m sorry that I haven't been explaining my weeks better. I´ll start right now with this week:

Monday-was P-day also transfer meeting. We met and the read the names and where everyone was going companions and such then we ate lunch with President, Sister and the rest of the staff at Sal y Pimenta...salt and pepper. It was good food. FUN FACT: nice restaurants are Buffets here!

Tuesday-Friday: Worked a ton. We tried to find lots of new investigators. Our teaching pool is kinda small...really small actually. It didn't go extremely well but we got a reference from another missionary in Santa Maria so we contacted them. It was a really good lesson...Elias and Loricelia, then we visited less-actives.

Saturday-Had English class, went really well...did some more teaching
Sunday-CHURCH, was an extremely hot day...had to have been 80 degrees with 70% humidity...too hot!!!!!

Today- Writing this e-mail in which I will talk about conference, things I need in my package, etc.

First off conference was great. We watched it in English because we had no investigators. We only watched the sessions on Sunday. Anyway I really liked Elder Ballards talk...MISSIONARY WORK ROCKS!!!! There were other good ones too...but i cant remember them all.

Tracy spent some time last night on Google Earth and looking at Jed's area.

DAD YOU FOUND SÃO PEDRO!!!! Yes it is the same city...tiny huh...and yep the roads do turn into dirt...dusty dusty dirt. It's funny the roads are mostly cobblestone and pavement is a blessing. Yes I do know about the dinosaur thing...crazy huh.

The statue on top of the catholic church is SAINT PETER!!! He´s holding the keys to the kingdom in his hands, no cross, just Peter! It's funny...because Portuguese was derived from Latin and Latin and Greek are similar you can see that Peter means Rock...because the Portuguese word for Peter is PEDRO and the Portuguese word for stone is PEDRA...interesting huh?

And now for Moms part:I have a few things to ask for...for Christmas or the like:
MY JANSPORT BACKPACK the big one not the school one...I've gone through 2 pairs of shoes and a backpack. I guess that’s what I get for buying a backpack for 20 bucks. Seriously it's all ripped and stuff...
A HYMN BOOK IN ENGLISH...pocket size preferably...
A COLLAPSABLE TRIPOD...like the one that I had that broke(you can pick one up at wal-mart or office depot I think)...seriously there are times I wish I had it...
Shoe Glue... if I need to fix my shoes...
About Fruit Snacks...next time you go to Costco...pick up the Kellogg’s fruit snacks...they´re my favorite :)
That’s great about Aunt Peggy... parabens!!!! (Congratulations!)
SNOW? WYOMING WEATHER I GUESS...I MISS SNOW

Everyone needs to read Jesus the Christ...it's a book of great importance...it will help you understand the life of Jesus Christ a lot more! A whole lot more!

I hope this was a long enough e-mail for you all. It's hard to write a lot when my companion needs help with a computer. Anyway so I gotta go but I will send pictures (of me mom) next week.
btw...I cut my own hair last week (YIKES!)

tchau tchau um embraço
Elder Breinholt

Wordle???

2008-10-12T11:43:00.002-06:00

I got this off of Jed's cousin Amy's blog. Thanks Amy! This is a wordle that I created from Jed's Blog. I love that it is (sort of) in the shape of a shoe. They walk everywhere. He's already worn out a pair of shoes.

Some pictures from Sao Pedro

2008-10-09T10:04:00.005-06:00

Mate...doesn't look so good to me

2008-10-06T22:42:00.005-06:00

Sorry about last week everyone...but we didn't get home from Santa Maria until 9...funny story about that...I´ll write it in my journal and you can ask me what happened when i get home...uhhh! No now would be good!

Paintballing was fun...i think that when i go home i´ll play it in missionary clothes... i´ll answer some questions and then continue...

Questions from his Dad
Jed, how are you feeling about the missionary work, your companion, and the Brazilian people? good...missionary work is great.. Is this area more of a struggle than your last area? about the same. Are the people different (more receptive or less so)? different is what i would call them...small town... Do you speak every week in your branch sacrament meeting? Or teach lessons each week (maybe Gospel Essentials)? Do you basically have to do it all on Sunday? no, no and no.
On my mission, we had to write to the mission president every week. Do you have to do this too? yes...but its e-mail now!!!
What kinds of things do you do on typical P-day? use internet...eat...clean...we haven´t gone to santa maria alot this transfer
I only have one question...
When we were in Hawaii Tommy said his mission president would not let them drink Mate because it has so much caffeine in it. I told him your Mission President was Brazilian and he said that would be why you are allowed to drink it. Just enlighten me on it. Is there a difference between Mate and Coffee? YES THERE IS!!!! i will send you a picture...and theres not a ton of caffiene in it...and it´s delicious!!!!
so this week was good...went to the farm again...send you a few pictures of that...its funny...i´ve been using the panoramic feature on my camera alot more here in são pedro... i´ll send you one...
today was transfers...nothing is changing in são pedro...
i started writing letters to people....again...ive been a slaker
but anyway...i dont have alot to say
talk to you all next week
love you all
elder jed breinholt
ps...package is great...

As you can see I didn't do a lot of editing on this e-mail have fun reading it.

Dad looks skinny...

2008-09-30T13:21:00.012-06:00

Some of you have asked me about Tracy looking skinny to Jed so I thought I'd post a "before" and "during" picture of Tracy's mission to loose weight. He is doing AMAZING! I am so proud of him. By next spring we should have a pretty good "after" picture.

This is what Jed remembers from February 2008

This is Tracy 40+ pounds lighter in Hawaii September 2008

I wish I were 40+ pounds lighter!!!

Dear Mom and Dad Please Send Money....

2008-09-29T17:06:00.003-06:00

Hey will you put more money in my account...please...
Today I will write more in Santa Maria...because I will be playing paint ball!
So thats my day...write more later.

Yea he didn't write more later...

Hello Family!

2008-09-22T08:18:00.004-06:00

This week has been really good. I don´t have alot of time but I did buy the clothes I wanted, and I did watch the parade. I will send you pictures next week.
Thanks for the election news. The stuff for the package is fine.

dc martins size 11.5 por favor. You sent me memory foam insoles. It's what I asked for but not what I really need...gel please...oh and i want an american flag...please.
I will definitely write more next week...
The pictures are great...dad is really skinny...thats great that you got to talk to the Elder Mankel!
Anyway love you all,

ELDER JED BREINHOLT

PS ELDER LEE IS DOING GREAT!!! HIS COMPANION IS A REALLY GOOD ELDER
Check out the comment on the blog for 9/8 it will explain who Elder Lee is.

This is a synopsis of the holiday they celebrated on Saturday. That was essentially their p-day so they didn't have much time today. Just enought time to e-mail and back to work.

September 20 is an important holiday for the people of Rio Grande do Sul. It marks the start of the revolution between the Gaúchos and the imperial government of Brazil. Ten years of warfare that left a lot of hurt and bitterness. The war was fought for independence and self-determination. Both of these are strong characteristics of the Gaúcho.

Hello Parents on a Cruise!

2008-09-22T07:45:00.004-06:00

This is from last week 9/15/08 while we were in Hawaii (It was amazing)

Hello parents on a cruise...
I´m doing great. Today I was going to buy clothing of the gaucho!
I hope I can send this e-mail. I couldn't send to Abi. Weird. Read some of my earlier e-mails and list in your next e-mail all that I said that i need...because I can't remember. I don't really have anything big to report about my week this week. Yesterday we went to the outside 20 km outside of São Pedro to the farm of a member (I know the grammar is wrong...but it's right in portuguese) But there was only one problem the batteries in my camera died so I didn't get any pictures to send...but I will...we will go back there soon. It's really beautiful...serene...I want to live in the wilderness...maybe when I'm rich I will buy some land here in São Pedro...yeah...that would be good.
But anyway here is a fun agricultural fact...in this region the main "cash crop" is litereally the "cash crop"...tabacco. João(the member) told us that he and only a few other of his neighbors don´t grow tabbacy that was interesting. Milked a cow Elder abreu had a really hard time getting started. It was good to be on the farm I don´t know why I feel like that but it was good.
Nothing extremely new besides the buying of gaucho clothes. Onthe 20th there will be a holiday...something to do with the state or gauchos or something...and everybody dresses up in gaucho clothes. There is a parade...pretty sweet. So I have to buy bombichas...pants... and also Im buying some sapatinhos...or shoes...I haven't brought myself to buy boots yet maybe next year. I don't want to lug around boots...but the shoes I can do. All in all it will cost me 65 real (BRL) about 30 bucks because the dollar is really high again! Let's hope it keeps climbing!
So hows the elections doing? I see some things on the tv..that John McCain and Barack Obama are the candidates but that's all I know. Brazillians are for Barack Obama...weird huh???
It's political season in Brazil as well...this year is city officials. So everywhere there are people with flags, passing out little flyers with the picture of the candidate and his number for the electronic voting machine. Cars with speakers on top blasting campaign music. Right now there is a rally in the park...under the water tower...yes there is a water tower in the middle of the central park... I´ll take a picture of it and send it to you...
Well I really don't have anything else to say. I hope you all get this... thats all...
love you guys!!!

From the Son that is ours...

2008-09-08T10:45:00.008-06:00

Sao Pedro, R.S.

35km north of Santa Maria

City Hall in Sao Gabriel

To the family that is mine...
This week has been really good. I have only 1 picture to send of São Pedro so far. I'd liken the hills in and around Santa Maria to the Black Hills in South Dakota with a few higher peaks. This is a continuation of those. It's really quite beautiful here what with all the flora. I will also send you a picture of the Prefitura(city hall) of São Gabriel and I will answer some questions. I wrote alot to Abi...had to get the randoms out...but i will try to write alot

What is required to be sanctified? We read in the end of Acts that Paul sanctified himself and was inside the temple when the ruling Jewish class came to get him to take him before the Romans. But really it's a putting off of all worldly things. Temples are sanctified because in them are preformed ordinances of heaven. So I think that for sanctification there needs to be a righteous desire to put off the things of the world for something better...eternal life. I have a question for you: WHY IS THE BOOK JESUS THE CHRIST SO GOOD??? Seriously I think it's the best book I've ever read.

1. How are your clothes? Shoes & Shirts? fine...if you do want to send me some shoes...send me some eccos...or dc martins....thick soles are very good for the mission.

2. I'm sending you a package at the end of September anything specific you want in it? fruit snacks...and 2 maps of the United States....chocolate orange..and maple extract...other candy from the USA.

3. How's the companion? good.

I'll write to certain people...

Hi Grandma...
This is just a short note to tell you how much I love you. And to thank you for being the Grandma next door of my childhood. The Grandma with fruit trees that we could climb eat...the Grandma that loved to garden and taught us to love plants too. Thank you for the games...twink(it definately helped me with adding)...battle ship...racko...all the games you loved to play with us. Thank you for your testimony and your love for this gospel...your example...thank you!

For Grandpa:
Grandpa...just a quick note to tell you how I am. I am doing great! Mom has been sending you my e-mails so you can read about my experiences, but I would just like to say thank you for all that you have done for me through out my life. Being the Grandpa that showed us the value of hard work. For always being there for us. For showing us your love for the gospel and service in the church. Thank you for everything and I love you!

Aunt Peggy:
Hi Aunt Peggy. You definately have been reading my blog, I know! Mom told me about your health trouble. That's bad luck...but I have faith that everything will go fine. Thank you for all that you and your family has done for mine. Setting an example of missionary service and activity in the church. Really for everything...for your really good chicken salad...REALLY GOOD CHICKEN SALAD! The great family parties we have at your house! Everything is better with Aunt Peggy´s Costco bargains!!!! Really thank you for your testimony. I love you and your family.

Anyway...turns out that when I come home I will eat conjica(look it up...delicious!!!)and pão de queijo! cheese bread...delicious as well...i think i will go get some now!!!
I love you all and think of you every day...
Elder Jed Breinholt
btw...elder eck told me to tell you guys to write him in his letter that I just read at Mcdonalds...(was delicious btw! I am not ashamed to say that Mcdonalds was delicious...)and i will talk to you all next week!!!

pão de queijo! cheese bread

“conjica”, a pudding made with hominy and sugar, topped with cinnamon

esta setembro, feliz primavera! (It's September Happy Spring)

2008-09-02T13:50:00.003-06:00

It really is spring...my allergies are killing me!!!!!! but whatever.

São Pedro is pretty good. There are hills at least! It's a city literally right next to Santa Maria...by right next I mean 1 hour away. For District Meeting we go to Santa Maria. Oh and Friday I will be in the newspaper here. I will send you a copy!! I´m starting an english class here.

Elder Abreau is my new companion...uh-huh...he´s really smart...but he has some trouble communicating with people. We´ll work on that. The branch is really small, just 2-3 familes. We´ll work on that too!

I don´t have a lot to say really

I will send pictures next week...because i don´t have space to send them this week!

tchau de seu missionario no brasil....e eu vou falar com vocês proxima semana...

(Good bye from your Missionary in Brazil )

New Pictures from Facebook...

2008-08-30T19:34:00.012-06:00

I didn't want to loose this one off the blog so I added it to this post.

The following pictures are from the Facebook page of the young man that is in the baptism pictures. Abi and Elisabeth sent them on to me. Don't you just love technology! Jed looks so incredibly happy and we are so incredibly proud. I love how in the first picture they are making fun of his "thumbs up" gesture. In the rest of the pictures you'll know why. I can't caption each of them because I don't know the names of those in the pictures so just enjoy!!

And the New Area is...SÃO PEDRO DO SUL!

2008-08-26T08:19:00.006-06:00

I´m just going to say...flood the earth with the Book of Mormon.

Today marks the 6 month mark for Elder Breinholt. WOW! As you can tell from the title (which is the subject line of his e-mail) of this post that he has been transferred. Here is his e-mail from yesterday.

Transfers were today and yes I am getting transferred to like it says in the subject line São Pedro do Sul. It's a little town that lies 35km from Santa Maria. My new companion is Elder Abreau. I don´t know anything about him...only seen him a few times...but its cool. I'm excited to get to know a new place and a new companion. I have had some interesting experiences here in São Gabriel and ate some interesting things...tripe included(it´s not as bad as you would think...)

So the Abister is going to big bad college is she? That's pretty cool I guess. Someone should ask her why she hasn´t e-mailed her big brother in Brazil yet...she can e-mail me from her e-mail address...she really can!

I really don´t have anything big to write about this week besides transfers. I am going to leave early in the morning, well not really early like 9. Then in the bus station in Santa Maria meet Elder Abreau and leave for São Pedro. The bus ride is really short maybe a half an hour. We will be the only Missionaries in the city it's really small only 16,000 people so the area is small. They tell me that the branch attendance is 13 to 20 people...GREAT!!! For district meeting we will travel to Santa Maria. So it turns out I´m going to the Newcastle of this mission...YAY!!!
Some good news Sister Myrrha didn´t come to inspect our house...good news...thumbs up!

So that's all I have to talk about this week...will have a ton to write next week!...btw...I am now a senior companion.

Love you all!

Hello people of the great white hat of America! (joke about Canada)

2008-08-18T14:22:00.005-06:00

Hello Family...
This week has been crazy...really. Saturday we had another baptism it was good. We also had an activity with the new Joseph Smith movie. Elder J. Silva got a copy I don´t know how because no one here has ever seen it. Anyway it's been a fairly good week thanks everybody for your prayers. Like I said we moved to the other apartment and like I said it's a dungeon. We had a few very humid days and everything...EVERYTHING...started to mold bad news bears. So this morning we started cleaning...heavily...because Sister Myrrha most likely will be here Thursday to inspect...joy. I will get you Elder Cordeiro´s address next week. And I will tell you where I am going next week, because really I think that I am getting transferred...so well see next Monday. Well that's been my week.

I am reading the Book of Mormon by the schedule...in Portuguese...yay!!!! (We read the Book of Mormon as a family from August - December every year. Want to join us? We are on 1Nephi 15 as of today. Read 2 chapters 6 times a week and you'll finish by Christmas with us!)

So Abi turned to the dark side, did she? (Abi bought an Apple Computer!!)

Well that's my life as a missionary. Have a great week everybody. This computer that I am using doesn't have a CD so no pictures this week...almost didn't have them last week...the cd wouldn't open...then a miracle happened...YAY!!!! So that's how I roll!

Goodbye all! I love you all...
Elder Jed Breinholt

chamados a servir - "Called to Serve"

2008-08-11T20:07:00.005-06:00

Sao Gabriel Branch Building

Hello family...this week has been crazy...
First we had zone conference on Tuesday....funny story...
I was talking to a certain elder laney...and he asked me where i was from...and what mission i lived in...then asked me if i knew elder eck...turns out they're from the same ward... so we had some good times talking about him...the office...laser cats...abi you understand... anyway so wrote him a letter too

Got your letters...didn't understand the letter from abi and stephane...was i supposed to?

Thursday we moved...to the dungeon...its not that bad i guess...closer to the church(see picture)
Saturday had another baptism...of a 12 year old kid.

I don't have really alot of time...p-day is already over...know that i love you all and wish for your success.
Dont have pictures of the baptisms yet!...will send later...next week i will know if i am getting transfered or not...

That's all for this week...I'll write better next week.
The other photo is me saying "wyoming again!"

tchau...eu amo vocês!

As best as I can translate using Babel Fish this says "Goodbye...I love you all" I love seeing him this is the first picture we have had for months! It makes me miss him. Elder Eck is one of our favorite missionaries here in our mission.